Sepal (Calyx)

Sepals surround the petals of a flower.

Flowers tend to have many sepals at their base. As a group, they are referred to as the calyx.

Drawing courtesy Carrie Liz Carpenter

Plants use sepals in a variety of ways.

Flower buds are made of sepals. Here it’s protecting an emerging flower.

Antioch Dunes Evening Primrose – photo © Bob Sikora

Some plants use sepals to attract pollinators.

Fetid Adder’s Tongue – photo © Neal Kramer

Here is a generic flower diagram, showing reproductive parts in the middle, surrounded by petals, and the petals by sepals. Each species makes its variations on this plan - dropping parts and changing shapes to succeed in its environment.

Drawing courtesy Judy Mason

Want more? See Wikipedia.

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