Calyx
/ˈkeɪlɪks/
Definition
Calyx refers to the outermost whorl of a flower, made up of the sepals taken together. It sits below the petals and surrounds the developing flower bud, often protecting it before the flower opens. In many plants the sepals are green and leaflike, but they can also be colored or fused into a cup or tube. After flowering, the calyx may persist around the fruit in some species.
Function in Plants
- Bud protection: Before a flower opens, the calyx helps shield delicate inner parts from drying, minor mechanical damage, and some feeding by insects.
- Support during flowering: Once the flower opens, the calyx can help hold petals in place and support the flower base, which may improve stability during pollination.
- Clue for plant identification: Botanists often compare size, fusion, shape, and persistence of the calyx to distinguish related species and describe flower structure accurately.
- Persistence around fruit: In some plants, the calyx remains attached after flowering and surrounds or supports developing fruit, making it easier to recognize certain fruits and seed heads.
Related Terms
Sepal
Sepal refers to one of the outermost, usually leaf-like parts of a flower. A sepal is part of the calyx, the ring of…
Perianth
Perianth is the collective term for the non-reproductive outer parts of a flower that surround the stamens and pistil…
Corolla
Corolla refers to the collective petals of a flower. It is a floral structure positioned just inside the sepals and…
Petal
Petal refers to one of the individual parts of a flower’s corolla, the inner set of leaf-like structures located just…
Flower
Flower is the reproductive structure of a flowering plant, usually containing stamens, which produce pollen, and one or…
Bract
Bract refers to a modified leaf associated with a flower, flower cluster, or cone. It is usually found just below the…
Tepal
Tepal refers to one of the flower parts in a perianth where sepals and petals are not clearly different in size, color…
Pistil
Pistil refers to the female reproductive structure of a flower. It consists of one carpel or several fused carpels and…