Which of the following are parts of a flower?

• A. Leaves, stems, and roots
• B. Seeds and fruits
• C. Petals, sepals, carpels, and stamens
• D. Bark, cambium, and xylem

Answer: (C)

Flowers have specific organs that make up their reproductive structure. The four basic floral organs are petals, sepals, carpels, and stamens. Petals are the colorful parts that attract pollinators. Sepals protect the developing bud and form the outer covering beneath the petals. Stamens are the male organs, with filaments and anthers where pollen is produced. Carpels, or the pistil, are the female organs that contain the ovary, style, and stigma; they receive pollen and, after fertilization, develop into seeds.

Leaves, stems, and roots are plant organs too, but they are not parts of a flower. Seeds and fruits are products that result from fertilization and later development, not components of the flower’s structure. Bark, cambium, and xylem are tissues and structures of the plant’s stems and trunks, not floral parts.