What is a flower?

A flower , sometimes known as a bloom or
blossom , is the reproductive structure
found in flowering plants (plants of the
division Magnoliophyta , also called
angiosperms). The biological function of a
flower is to effect reproduction, usually by
providing a mechanism for the union of
sperm with eggs. Flowers may facilitate
outcrossing (fusion of sperm and eggs from
different individuals in a population) or
allow selfing (fusion of sperm and egg from
the same flower). Some flowers produce
diaspores without fertilization
( parthenocarpy). Flowers contain sporangia
and are the site where gametophytes
develop. Flowers give rise to fruit and seeds.
Many flowers have evolved to be attractive
to animals, so as to cause them to be
vectors for the transfer of pollen.
In addition to facilitating the reproduction
of flowering plants, flowers have long been
admired and used by humans to beautify
their environment, and also as objects of
romance, ritual, religion, medicine and as a
source of food.