Australia's Science Forum

Dear All - Just need a little advice on flowers for dissection. We need to keep it very simple! Not being a gardener myself I have no idea which flowers would be suitable, could you name flowers you have found best. Many thanks. Cheers - Judy

Hibiscus! They are big and if its the right time of year, plentiful on a decent sized tree. I raid my neighbours tree for them (with their permission of course)

Any simple flowers that are large enough should do, as anything too small would make it difficult to see the ovules. Look for flowers which have 5 petals and 5 stamens such as azaleas or fuschias.

Good luck
Judy

Ahhh one I can finally comment on (being new & all....) but I've actually studied this at uni! It would depend on the time of the year as to what is blooming unless you're getting them from a florist / grower?

We studied the Fabaceae family (peas, beans, ) & also Protaceae (proteas). The Protaceae family are interesting because they have unusual flowers & therefore flower parts too.

But this was studying a particular family & looking at their formula's so I can't comment on other flowers that would be best. What about the various sorts of flower types - Bell shaped (campanula - bell flower), funnel shaped (some lilies - ), trumpet shaped (petunia), salverform (plumbago), tubular (grape hyacinth, heliotrope or lilac), urn-shaped (erica - heath), bowl shaped (poppy), lipped (salvias), pea shaped (peas), strap shaped (cosmos).

Have fun!!! Hmmmmm wonder when our lab is doing something like that............

Our teachers like penstemons. Good flower size and can see ovules. Bad time of year to be trying to find flowers but penstemons do flower all year!!

Rae, Rae - what ARE penstemons? ('cuse my ignorance)

They are a perennial cottage plant that grow about a meter tall and have flower spikes with about 8-10 flowers on them. The flowers are bell tubular shape about 4-5cm long. Very easy to grow don't need much water.
Hpefully I've attached a picture. These are the ones I have in my garden but there are stacks of other varieties.

Thank you Rae, I also was unsure what they looked like. Well done

Petunias are good as long they realise the five petals are fused. they grow easly and produce many flowers.
Lilies like Princess lily, are also big and clear for petals and stamens.
Complicated flowers or daisy flowers are unsuitable for beginners.
Rosalie (another one)

Thanks for the photo, Rae. I've seen those before, but the name's new to me. Do they also have a common name?

I like a good, large simple flower, uncomplicated without too many petals to get in the way.
Single Hibiscus are about the best. Lilies & tulips are good too.
Passionfruit and pumpkin flowers are good if you can get them ( those pumpkin are male and female seperate flowers).. but loathe to pull them off and lose the fruit that follows

Dear All - Many thanks for your suggestions - knew I could count on you guys! And yes, not the best time of year for flower dissection pracs, but can't be helped! Once again Thanks. Judy.

G'day All,
I am having a dumb day so I need help more than usual. I need some flowers for dissection that I can readily buy at a florist. I have already rang asking for hibiscus but they do not seem to be available. And, after having spent much time on the net, I realise that I need to go to the oracle.
What flower, in Melbourne, would be best for dissection for our 13 years old students? Of course, these flowers are needed next week.
Can anyone help, please.
Thank you
Maree

Maree,
lilies are great for dissection but dear to buy , I think. We use hibiscus because we have a couple of shrubs at school.
Good luck
Lada

Daffodils are great. They are simple and big enough to see all the parts. They should also be in abundant supply at the moment and you should be able to buy them at the supermarket. Isn't it daffodil day soon??

Lorrae

Yes it is tomorrow. Daff day tomorrow.

Thank you Lada and Lorrae. There is usually a simple answer to most things and you two have found that for me. Thanks again.
Maree

Well obviously we have hibiscus everywhere up here, but another suggestion is to go to a florist wholesalers, or even the flower markets in VIC, and ask for the reject flowers. The ones whose stems have snapped, or have brown blotches on the petals etc. If you go in advance and explain what you want, most people are happy to give you what they were only going to write off anyway. We sent a big thank you letter on letterhead to our local wholesaler, and put a few business cards up in the staff room, as a pay off for about a garbage bag full of "seconds".