Part 2: Plant Structure—Flowers

Flowers are the reproductive structures of the plant. They house all of the plant’s reproductive organs and make the plant’s sex cells. Both male and female sex cells are produced within the flower, and as is the case with other organisms, one of each type of the reproductive cells must come together before a new plant can be produced. Two mechanisms of reproduction are possible in plants: sexual reproduction (which requires two plants or two plant parts), or asexual reproduction (which uses the reproductive parts of just a single plant). Flowers are often brightly colored, sweet to the taste, and have a pleasant aroma. These characteristics attract insects, birds, and other animals that help in the reproductive process by transferring sex cells between plants, plant parts, or to new locations.

Essential oils are isolated from the flowers or flowering stems of lavender, jasmine, Roman chamomile, ylang ylang, and rose.