Core Experiment 1.

1
Study of Flowering Plant Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Aim:

To study and describe a common flowering plant Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and

dissect and display the various parts of it flower.

Requirements:

Dissecting microscope, dissecting needle, forceps, slides, coverslips, blade,

flowering twig of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (China rose).

Classification:

Division - Angiospermae

Class - Dicotyledonae

Family - Malvaceae

Genus - Hibiscus

Species - rosa-sinensis

Description of Plant:

Habit - Perennial shrub.

Root - Tap root system.
Stem - Aerial, erect, cylindrical, woody and branched.
Leaf - Simple, Alternate, petiolate, stipulate, with serrate margin and
reticulate venation.
Flower - Solitary, pedicellate, bracteate, bracteolate, bisexual,
pentamerous, actinomorphic, hypogynous, complete, large,
and showy.
Epicalyx - Green and free 5 to 8 bracteoles outer to the calyx.

Calyx - Sepals 5, green, gamosepalous showing valvate aestivation.

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Corolla - Petals 5, variously coloured, polypetalous but fused at the
base and showing twisted aestivation.

Androecium - Stamens numerous, monadelphous, filaments are fused to

form a staminal tube around the style. Staminal tube is red
and unite with corolla (epipetalous).

Gynoecium - Ovary superior, pentacarpellary and syncarpous. Ovary

pentalocular with many ovules per locule, axile placentation.
Style simple, long, slender and passes through the staminal
tube. Stigmas - 5.

Floral Formula - ⊕ ⚥ Epi K 5-7 K(5) C5 A(∞) (5)

Economic Importance - Ornamental plant; yields dark purple dye used for
making shoe polish

Characteristic of the Family:

1. Presence of epicalyx.
2. Stamens numerous and fused at the base of filaments to form staminal
tube, through which style passes.
3. Pentacapillary ovary with axile placentation.

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