Question

A flower is Zygomorphic when __________________.

Answer 1

The zygomorphic flower is a flower that has unequal parts and is capable of division into essentially symmetrical half by only one longitudinal plane passing through the axis.

Complete answer:
The zygomorphic flower is capable of being divided into two equal parts that can be a mirror image of each other. There is a line that passes through the middle of the flower and there is another line that passes the middle of the flower which does not give the mirror image. These can be mono symmetrical, radially symmetrical, and regular flowers. So basically the flower can divide in a symmetrical part only through one longitudinal plane. An example of the zygomorphic flower is orchids and flowers of most members of the lamiales. Another term for the zygomorphic flower is unsymmetrical for bi symmetrical. The reason for the zygomorphic flower is that part of the flower is not equal. The zygomorphic condition is represented by the symbol of percentage (%). The zygomorphic flower has more specialized pollination interactions as compared to species that are radially symmetrical or also called actinomorphic flowers. Flower more precise contact with pollinators guide pollinators behavior and exclude less effective pollinators which makes this property of zygomorphic flowers unique but the flowers are visited by a smaller subset of pollinators. That is also the reason why zygomorphic flowers are not present more in number as they are visited by fewer number of pollinators.

Note: Different kinds of symmetry in flowers is due to differences in pollinator. Zygomorphic diversity is at greater risk of extinction due to pollinator loss. Zygomorphy is associated with greater diversification.