For the petals of chakras, see
Petal (chakra). A petal (from
Ancient Greek petalon "leaf", "thin plate"), regarded as a highly modified leaf, is one member or part of the
corolla of a
flower. The corolla is the name for all of the petals of a flower; the inner
perianth whorl, term used when this is not the same in appearance (color, shape) as the outermost whorl (the
calyx) and is used to attract
pollinators based on its
bright color. It is the inner part of the perianth that comprises the sterile parts of a flower and consists of inner and outer
tepals. These tepals are usually differentiated into petals and
sepals. The term "tepal" is usually applied when the petals and sepals are similar in shape and color. In a "typical" flower the petals are showy and colored and surround the reproductive parts. The number of petals in a flower (see
merosity) is indicative of the plant's classification:
eudicots (the largest group of
dicots) having typically four or five petals and
monocots and
magnoliids having three, or some multiple of three, petals.
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