flowering plant
Definition
- Noun:
- A plant that produces flowers and has its seeds enclosed within an ovary: This is the primary botanical definition. A flowering plant is a member of the angiosperm group, characterized by reproductive structures called flowers and seeds that develop inside a protective ovary, which often becomes a fruit.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The rose is a classic example of a flowering plant.
- Botanists study the evolution of the flowering plant.
- Most of the trees in this forest are flowering plants.
Advanced Usage
- In botanical classification: The term "flowering plant" is synonymous with "angiosperm," which is a major clade (Angiospermae) within the plant kingdom, contrasted with gymnosperms (like conifers) which have "naked" seeds not enclosed in an ovary.
- The dominance of flowering plants is a relatively recent event in Earth's history.
Variants and Related Words
- Angiosperm (n): The formal scientific term for a flowering plant.
- Angiosperms are the most diverse group of land plants.
- Non-flowering plant (n): A plant that does not produce flowers, such as ferns, mosses, and conifers.
- Ferns are an example of a non-flowering plant.
Synonyms
- Angiosperm: The direct scientific synonym.
- Blossoming plant: A less technical, descriptive synonym focusing on the flower production.
Related Phrases
- To come into flower: To begin blooming. (Note: This phrase uses "flower," not the compound "flowering plant").
- The magnolia tree will come into flower in early spring.
Notes on Meaning
- The term specifically refers to the biological group (angiosperms). It is not generally used to describe a plant that is merely in the act of blooming. For that, phrases like "a plant that is flowering" or "a blooming plant" are used.
- The "closed ovary" part of the definition is a key distinguishing feature from other seed plants.
Noun
-
plants having seeds in a closed ovary
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