Question

Explain the terms papilionaceous corolla.

Answer 1

Aestivation can be described as a mode of arrangement of sepals or petals with respect to the other members of the same whorl in the floral bud. Papilionaceous corolla can be described as aestivation seen in family Papilionaceous.

Complete answer:
Papilionaceous corolla can be described as the special type of aestivation that can be observed in family Papilionaceae. In this type of aestivation presence of five petals can be observed. The largest petal is termed as standard or vexillum, the two lateral petals are termed as wings and the smallest anterior petals are termed as keels. In this aestivation the standard or vexillum are arranged in such a way that it overlaps wings and wings in turn are arranged in such a way that they overlap keels. Papilionaceous corolla can be observed in the Fabaceae family. An exception in the Fabaceae family that doesn't exhibit the morphology of the papilionaceous corolla is the false indigo genus. It consists of only one petal per flower termed as the banner and thus isn't capable enough to exhibit the morphology of the papilionaceous corolla.

Note:
When sepals and petals are arranged in whorl where one margin of appendage overlaps the other appendage and so on then this arrangement is termed as twisted aestivation.Valvate aestivation can be observed when sepals or petals in whorl and arranged in such a way that they just touch one another ,such as in Calotropis. Imbricate Aestivation can be described as a condition when the margin of sepals or petals in a flower overlaps but not in a particular manner such as in Gulmohar.