Model, L. S. Flower

Quick Answer: The L.S. flower model is an enlarged longitudinal section of a typical flower, cut through the middle from stalk to stigma. It shows how the sepals, petals, stamens and carpels attach to the thalamus and exposes the ovary with its ovules, the parts most involved in fertilisation.

The Flower in Section

A longitudinal section reveals what the outside of a flower hides. The pedicel widens into the thalamus, or receptacle, on which the whorls sit in order. In section the ovary appears as a hollow chamber holding ovules attached to the placenta, the style runs up to the stigma, and the stamens show anthers with their pollen sacs. Where the ovary sits in relation to the other parts, above them (superior) or below them (inferior), becomes clear only in this view.

An L.S. flower model is the standard aid for explaining double fertilisation in flowering plants. The teacher traces a pollen grain landing on the stigma, its pollen tube growing down the style and entering the ovule through the micropyle, where one male gamete joins the egg and the second joins the central cell to start the endosperm. None of this can be seen in a whole flower.

Sectioned flower models are often made as a relief on a board; the listing does not state this one’s format, species or size, and those points can be confirmed before ordering. For an all-round view of a whole flower, see the flower model on stand.

Lessons Built on the Section

• Double fertilisation and the formation of the zygote and endosperm
• Superior, inferior and half-inferior ovaries in plant classification
• Placentation and the attachment of ovules
• Comparison with student-cut sections of hibiscus or datura flowers in practicals

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the L.S. flower model flat, or hang it securely if it is board-mounted; a fall can crack the cut face.
• Dust gently and keep water off the painted section surfaces.
• Store it away from direct sunlight so the colours distinguishing the tissues remain clear.

Why Choose LabEquip

Botany teachers covering sexual reproduction in flowering plants rely on a sectioned flower to show fertilisation. LabEquip carries the section among its biology lab products; the botanical flower structure chart can accompany it on the wall. Ask about format and quantities through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a flower cut in longitudinal section?

A lengthwise cut through the centre shows how the whorls attach to the thalamus and exposes the inside of the ovary with its ovules. It is the view needed to explain ovary position and fertilisation.

What is double fertilisation?

In flowering plants two male gametes from one pollen tube enter the ovule. One unites with the egg cell, giving the zygote; the second unites with the pair of polar nuclei in the central cell, giving a triploid nucleus from which the food-storing endosperm grows.

What is the difference between a superior and an inferior ovary?

A superior ovary sits above the point where the other floral parts attach, as in mustard. An inferior ovary is sunk below them, with the other parts arising above it, as in cucumber or guava.

What is the micropyle?

The micropyle is a small opening in the coverings of the ovule. The pollen tube usually enters through it to deliver the male gametes, and after fertilisation it remains as a pore in the seed coat through which water enters at germination.

Which real flowers are good for cutting sections in class?

Large flowers with clear parts work well, such as hibiscus, datura, petunia or lily. Cut them with a sharp blade on a tile and examine the halves with a hand lens.

What is the thalamus?

The thalamus, or receptacle, is the enlarged end of the pedicel that carries every floral whorl. In some fruits, such as the apple, it swells to form most of the edible flesh.

Last Updated: September 2026