1. No category

Flower Parts
Receptacle
The receptacle is the apex of the flower stalk (peduncle or pedicel) where some or
all of the floral organs are inserted. It is also referred to as the torus. It is usually
a small transition area, but can be enlarged or swollen into a distinct organ.
Stigma
Stamens
Petals
Ovary
Style
Sepals
Ovary
Receptacle
Receptacle
Back to main
flower menu
Peduncle
Next
Peduncle
Lily (Lilium) with
front petals removed.
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle - Disk
When the receptacle forms an
enlarged structure above the
peduncle or pedicel, it is termed a
receptacle disk (disc) or gynobase.
The disk commonly contains the
petals and stamens inserted on
the disk and the ovary is either
on top (hypogynous), surrounded
(perigynous) or covered
(epigynous) by the disk.
Trumpet vine
(Campsis) in bud
Petals
Stamens
Ovary
Receptacle
disk
Peduncle
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Hypogynous disk
A receptacle disk is considered
hypogynous if the ovary sits on top
of the disk and the petals and
stamens arise from the disk.
Stamens
Stigma
Stigma
Cape primrose
Style
(Streptocarpus)
section with
petals and
stamens removed
Petals
Ovary
Style
Ovary
Sepals
Receptacle
Back to main
flower menu
Receptacle
disk
Sepals
Peduncle
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Perigynous disk (hypanthium)
The disk is considered perigynous when it surrounds the ovary,
but the sepals, petals and stamens arise from the receptacle.
This type of receptacle cup is also called the hypanthium.
Stamens
Petals
Sepals
Ovary
Receptacle
disk
(hypanthium)
Perigynous receptacle disk
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Flower in the bud
Open flower
Balloonflower (Platycodon)
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Epigynous disk
The receptacle disk is epigynous when it covers (adheres) the ovary
and the other floral organs arise from the disk.
Stamens
Intact flower.
Style and
stigma
Style
and
stigma
Section of flower through
the disk with petals and
two stamens removed.
Style and
stigma
Petals
Stamens
Receptacle
disk covering
ovary
Sepals
Petals
Epigynous receptacle disk
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Receptacle
disk
Ovaries
Spindle tree (Euonymus)
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Epigynous disk
The ginseng family (Araliaceae) have prominent, epigynous receptacle disks
from the pedicel. The stamens arise from the disk that also covers the style.
Inflorescence
Single flower
Stamen
Stigma
Receptacle
disk covered
with nectar
Petal
English ivy (Hedera)
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle- Disk
Black gum (Nyssa) produces separate male and female flowers. The male
flowers are an example of a receptacle disk in a flower without an ovary.
Black gum (Nyssa) male flowers
The receptacle disk becomes more
obvious as the petals and stamens abscise.
Receptacle
disk
Stamens
Receptacle
disk
Pedicel
Petals
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Nectar disk
In many species, the receptacle disk produces nectar and is termed a
nectar disk. The nectar disk (ring) often surrounds the base of the ovary.
Stigma
Vertical section of the flower
with part of the petal tube and
receptacle removed.
Stamens
Nectar disk
Style
Flower with petals and
stamens, style and stigma
removed.
Cut
style
Receptacle
tissue
Petals
Back to main
flower menu
Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea)
Back
Next
Nectar disk
Back to flower
parts menu
Ovary
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Nectar gland
Members of the mint family
(Lamiaceae), have a well
developed receptacle disk
and a gynobastic style.
Nectar
gland
A gynobastic style is
attached to the receptacle
disk and ovary side rather
than the ovary apex.
Style
Nectar
gland
Ovaries
In Salvia, the nectar gland
also arises from the
receptacle disk.
Receptacle
disk
Front petals and stamens removed.
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Expanded or elongated
In flowers that contain many pistils,
the receptacle is enlarged or elongated
to accommodate their number.
Section through
the flower bud
Pistils
Pistils
Petals
Style
Stamens
Enlarged, flattened
receptacle
Back to main
flower menu
Dorstenia
Back
Next
Elongated
receptacle
Back to flower
parts menu
Magnolia
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Expanded or elongated
Lotus (Nelumbo) produces a large expanded disk that forms primarily above
the stamen whorl and completely surrounds the ovaries.
Receptacle
disk
Receptacle
disk
Stigma
Stamens
Enclosed
ovary
Petals
Stamens
Lotus (Nelumbo)
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle - – Expanded or elongated
Petals
Rose has a perigynous
flower with many
independent, simple
pistils.
Sepals
Note how the sepal,
petals, and stamens
attach at the rim of
the hypanthium and
the ovaries are
inserted down into the
cup formed by the
hypanthium.
Back to main
flower menu
Many simple
pistils
Pistils
Stamens
Rim of
hypanthium
Back
Next
Hypanthium
Ovaries
Ovaries
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle - Gynophore
A gynophore is an extension of the
receptacle (stalk) that raises the
pistil above the petal whorl.
In caper (Capparis), the receptacle
extension raises the pistil above
the petals and stamens.
Gynophore
Petals
Pistil
Pistil
Stamens
Gynophore
Receptacle
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle - Gynophore
In Cleome spinosa, the gynophore continues to elongate pushing
the fruit away from the main flowering axis.
Gynophore
Pistil
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle - Gynophore
Passionflower (Passiflora)
When the stamens and
pistil are raised above
the petals, the gynophore
(receptacle stalk) is
further differentiated as
an androgynophore.
Ovary
Stamens
Androgynophore
Corona
Petals
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Stigma and
styles
Next
Sepals
Back to flower
parts menu
Petals
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Stylar column
In crane’s-bill, there is an elongated receptacle surrounded by equally long styles
(stylar column). As the fruit matures, the styles coils to lift each fruitlet above the
stylar column. The spring-like action discharges a single seed from each fruitlet.
Crane’s bill (Geranium)
Fruitlets
Styles
Receptacle
Elongated
styles
Receptacle
(stylar)
column
Ovaries
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle
In the composite family (Asteraceae), the inflorescence is called a capitulum or
head. It contains many stalkless (sessile) flowers inserted into the receptacle
disk. This is similar to the receptacle in single flowers with many pistils.
Many individual flowers on the receptacle.
Disk florets
Ray floret
Bracts
Peduncle
Back to main
flower menu
Receptacle disk
Back
Next
Ray floret
Receptacle
disk
Zinnia
Back to flower
parts menu
Disk floret
Bracts
Peduncle
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
The receptacle in strawberry (Fragaria) is elongated and similar to the receptacle
seen in the composites. The difference is that rather than many sessile florets,
strawberry has numerous independent pistils inserted on the conical receptacle.
Stamens
Stamens
Pistils
Petals
Sepals
Pistils on
the
receptacle
Petals
Fragaria x ‘Lipstick’
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Receptacle
Back to flower
parts menu
Ovary
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
The receptacle in strawberry continues to expand and becomes the edible “fruit”.
Flowers
Receptacle
Sepals
Sepals
Receptacle
Achenes
Strawberry (Fragaria)
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
In apple, the fruit is a pome where the inner fruit and seeds (inside the papery
endocarp) is surrounded by modified floral receptacle tube (hypanthium) that
grows to cover the botanical fruit. It is also found in pear and quince.
Receptacle
Seeds
Carpel tissue
Remnant
flower tissue
Back to main
flower menu
Apple (Malus )
Back
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
In figs (Ficus) the flower is termed a hypanthodium where the flowers are formed
on the surface of an expanded receptacle that is folded to enclose the flowers.
Ostiole
Ostiole
Flowers
Receptacle
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Receptacle
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Fig
(Ficus)
The ostiole is a
small opening in the
receptacle that
allows pollinating
wasps to enter the
flower.
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
Figs produce a syconium fruit, where the seeds are
attached to an inverted receptacle.
Inflorescence
Compound fruit
Single
fruit
Bracts
Ostiole
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Fig (Ficus)
Next
Back to flower
parts menu
Receptacle
Main menu
Flower Parts
Receptacle – Edible receptacles
In cashew (Anacardium occidentale),
the receptacle swells to become the
colorful portion of the fruit. It is
technically called a hypocarpium. The
fleshy receptacle is edible and
referred to as a cashew apple.
Receptacle
(Cashew apple)
Below the swollen receptacle is the
true fruit – a drupe. The culinary
cashew nut is actually the seed
located inside the drupe.
Drupe
Back to main
flower menu
Back
Back to flower
parts menu
Main menu