the floral formula tells us about the nature of flowers. the floral diagram represents the plan of arrangements of floral whorl in relation to the mother axis.

1. Floral formula and floral
diagram
Dambar Singh Khatri

2. At first we need to know..
• Floral formula tells us about nature of flower. Following natures of flowers are written symbolically to write
floral formula
• Bracteate or ebracteate
• Symmetry of flower( actinomorphic or zygomorphic)
• Sexuality of flower
• Number of sepals
• Union of sepals( poly or gamosepalous)
• Number of petals
• Union of petals (poly or gamopetalous)
• Number and union of stamens and carpels

4. Symbols used for different floral characters..
• Bracteate – Br Unisexual, male - ⚦
• Ebracteate- Ebr Unisexual female- ♀
• Bracteolate- Brl Neuter- N
• Ebracteolate- Ebrl Calyx, sepals- K
• Actinomorphic- ⊕ Corolla, petals- C
• Zygomorphic - % Perianth, tapals- P
• Bisexual- ⚥ Androecium, stamen- A
• Gynoecium, carpel- G

5. Some basic ideas..
• Number of floral leaves are written after their symbol.
• If the number of sepals is five, 5 is written after K. If it is polysepalous then it is
written as K5 and if it gamosepalous, it is written as K(5).
• In case of epipetalous stamen, an arc is given joining C and A like
• If ovary is superior, horizontal line is drawn below the number of carpels. Eg G(2)
• If the ovary is inferior, the horizontal line is drawn above the number of carpels. Eg,
G(2)
• Let us see the floral formula: Ebr ⊕ K2+2 C4 A2+4 G(2)

6. Floral diagram
• Floral diagram represents the plan of arrangements of floral whorls in relation to mother axis. It
describes most of the feathers of a flower like symmetry, regular, irregular, sexuality, number of
floral parts, relation between floral parts, nature of anthers, lobes of ovary placentation etc.
• T.S. of ovary is present in the center of floral diagram. Whorl of androecium, corolla, calyx are
drawn inside to outside of ovary.
• The sepals are represented by arc, androecium are represented by single or double kidney shaped
spots. If they are epipetalous, stamen and petals are joined by line.
• For gamopetalous or gamosepalous condition, adjacent petals or sepals are joined.
• Mother axis is represented by dots. If flower is bractate, additional arc is drawn at the anterior
side of flower diagram.

7. Floral diagram

8. Thank you