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Morphology of Flowering Plants

NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 5

Morphology of Flowering Plants for Class 11 Biology and NEET: root, stem, leaf, inflorescence, flower, fruit and seed, floral formulae and plant families.

17 topics Updated 8 Nov 2026

For: Class 11 and NEET, unless a topic says otherwise

In the syllabus: NEET Class 11 syllabus

With your textbook

NCERT Biology (Class 11), Chapter 5 “Morphology of Flowering Plants”, reprint 2026-27.

Open the official NCERT chapter (PDF, 3.4 MB, ncert.nic.in)

Checked on 19 Oct 2026.

Learn in this order

  1. The root

    The root for Class 11 Biology and NEET: tap, fibrous and adventitious types of roots, root functions and the regions of the root tip, with diagrams.

    NCERT Section 5.1 9 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  2. Modifications of root

    Storage roots of carrot and sweet potato, prop roots of banyan, stilt roots of maize and the pneumatophores of mangroves.

    NEET only 8 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  3. The stem

    The stem for Class 11 Biology and NEET: its origin from the plumule, nodes, internodes, terminal and axillary buds, functions, and stem versus root.

    NCERT Section 5.2 7 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  4. Modifications of stem

    Underground storage stems, stem tendrils and thorns, phylloclades, and runners, stolons, offsets and suckers, with examples.

    NEET only 9 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  5. The leaf

    Parts of a leaf for Class 11 Biology and NEET: leaf base, petiole and lamina, reticulate and parallel venation, simple and compound leaves, phyllotaxy.

    NCERT Section 5.3 10 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  6. Modifications of leaf

    Leaf tendrils of pea, spines of cacti, fleshy leaves of onion, phyllodes of Australian acacia, and insect-catching leaves.

    NEET only 7 min read 6 solved examples 12 practice questions

  7. Inflorescence

    Types of inflorescence for Class 11 Biology and NEET: racemose and cymose, the flower as a modified shoot, acropetal and basipetal order, with a diagram.

    NCERT Section 5.4 7 min read 5 solved examples 7 practice questions

  8. The flower

    Parts of a flower for Class 11 Biology and NEET: calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium, symmetry, ovary position, aestivation and placentation.

    NCERT Section 5.5 13 min read 6 solved examples 14 practice questions

  9. The fruit

    The fruit for Class 11 Biology and NEET: a ripened ovary, parthenocarpic fruits, epicarp, mesocarp and endocarp, mango and coconut drupes, false fruits.

    NCERT Section 5.6 8 min read 6 solved examples 10 practice questions

  10. The seed

    Seed structure for Class 11 Biology and NEET: dicot and monocot seeds, seed coat, hilum, micropyle, endospermic seeds and maize, with labelled diagrams.

    NCERT Section 5.7 9 min read 6 solved examples 10 practice questions

  11. Semi-technical description

    The symbols, fusion and adhesion, the order of a semi-technical description, and solved examples.

    NCERT Section 5.8 9 min read 6 solved examples 10 practice questions

  12. Family Solanaceae

    NCERT’s vegetative and floral characters, floral formula, floral diagram, examples and uses of the potato family.

    Class 11 only NCERT Section 5.9 8 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

  13. Family Malvaceae

    Epicalyx, twisted petals, monadelphous stamens, one-lobed anthers, axile placentation, uses and the floral formula of hibiscus.

    NEET only 8 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

  14. Family Cruciferae (Brassicaceae)

    Cruciform corolla, tetradynamous stamens, parietal placentation with a false septum, siliqua, formula and uses.

    NEET only 8 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

  15. Family Leguminosae (Fabaceae)

    Root nodules, traditional subfamilies, papilionaceous flowers, diadelphous stamens, pods and formulas.

    NEET only 9 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

  16. Family Compositae (Asteraceae)

    Capitulum with ray and disc florets, pappus, syngenesious stamens, inferior ovary, basal placentation and cypsela.

    NEET only 8 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

  17. Family Gramineae (Poaceae)

    Jointed culm, leaf sheath and ligule, spikelets with glumes, lemma, palea and lodicules, caryopsis, formula and uses.

    NEET only 10 min read 5 solved examples 10 practice questions

Key formulas in this chapter

The root

  • tap root: radicle → primary root + laterals (most dicots)
  • fibrous: many roots from the stem base (monocots)
  • adventitious: roots from parts other than the radicle
  • root tip: cap → meristematic → elongation → maturation
  • root hairs: from epidermal cells of the maturation region

Modifications of root

  • storage: carrot (tap root); sweet potato (adventitious roots); turnip includes hypocotyl
  • prop roots: hang from branches into soil (banyan)
  • stilt roots: from lower stem nodes (maize, sugarcane)
  • pneumatophores: grow vertically up from swampy soil; oxygen for respiration

The stem

  • seedling main shoot: from plumule; primary root: from radicle
  • node: where leaves are borne; internode: between two nodes
  • buds: terminal (tip), axillary (leaf axil) → branch
  • stem conducts water, minerals, photosynthates
  • stem marks: nodes and internodes; hairs usually multicellular; young aerial shoots commonly phototropic

Modifications of stem

  • underground storage stems: tuber, rhizome, corm (also perennation)
  • gourd tendrils and thorns: NCERT axillary-bud examples; grapevine tendrils opposite leaves
  • phylloclade: green stem, flattened or cylindrical, that photosynthesises
  • runner: creeps on the ground, roots at nodes
  • stolon: arches down to the ground; offset: rosette and roots (aquatic)
  • sucker: grows under the soil, then obliquely up

The leaf

  • leaf parts: leaf base, petiole, lamina
  • reticulate venation: veinlets in a network (most dicots)
  • parallel venation: veins parallel (most monocots)
  • compound leaf: incisions reach the midrib; bud in petiole axil only
  • pinnate: leaflets on a rachis; palmate: leaflets at the petiole tip
  • phyllotaxy: alternate, opposite, whorled

Modifications of leaf

  • leaf tendril: modified leaflets, for climbing (pea)
  • spine: modified leaf, for defence (cacti)
  • fleshy leaves: storage (onion, garlic)
  • phyllode: green flattened petiole (Australian acacia)
  • insectivorous leaves: pitchers, snap traps, bladders

Inflorescence

  • inflorescence: arrangement of flowers on the floral axis
  • racemose: axis keeps growing; acropetal (oldest at the base)
  • cymose: axis ends in a flower; basipetal (oldest at the top)
  • flower: modified shoot; apical meristem → floral meristem

The flower

  • whorls: calyx, corolla, androecium, gynoecium on the thalamus
  • NCERT: hypogynous superior; perigynous “half inferior”; epigynous inferior (see botanical caveat)
  • aestivation: valvate, twisted, imbricate, vexillary
  • stamens in bundles: monadelphous 1, diadelphous 2, polyadelphous more than 2
  • carpel: stigma, style, ovary (ovules on a placenta)
  • placentation: marginal, axile, parietal, free central, basal

The fruit

  • fruit: mature ovary, usually after fertilisation; accessory parts may contribute
  • parthenocarpic fruit: formed without fertilisation
  • pericarp: epicarp, mesocarp, endocarp
  • drupe: superior ovary, one-seeded, stony endocarp (mango, coconut)
  • mango: fleshy edible mesocarp; coconut: fibrous mesocarp
  • false fruit: thalamus also contributes (apple, strawberry, cashew)

The seed

  • seed: seed coat and embryo
  • seed coat: testa (outer), tegmen (inner)
  • embryo: embryonal axis (radicle, plumule) and cotyledons
  • endospermic: castor; non-endospermic: bean, gram, pea
  • maize: scutellum; coleoptile (plumule), coleorhiza (radicle)
  • aleurone layer: proteinous outer layer of the endosperm

Semi-technical description

  • order: habit, vegetative characters, floral characters, floral diagram and formula
  • K calyx, C corolla, P perianth, A androecium, G gynoecium, Br bracteate
  • G with a line below: superior ovary; with a line above: inferior ovary
  • ⊕ actinomorphic, % zygomorphic; ♂ male, ♀ female, ⚥ bisexual
  • brackets: fusion; line above the symbols: adhesion
  • mustard: ⊕ ⚥ K2+2 C4 A2+4 G(2), G underlined

Family Solanaceae

  • Solanaceae: potato family
  • leaves: alternate, simple, exstipulate, reticulate venation
  • calyx: 5 united, persistent; corolla: 5 united; both valvate
  • stamens 5, epipetalous; ovary bicarpellary, superior, axile
  • formula: ⊕ ⚥ K(5) C(5) A5 G(2), line over C and A, G underlined
  • fruit: berry or capsule; seeds many, endospermous

Family Malvaceae

  • Malvaceae: cotton family; epicalyx usually present
  • calyx 5 united (valvate); corolla 5 free (twisted)
  • stamens many, monadelphous; anthers monothecous
  • cotton–hibiscus examples: ovary superior, axile; fruit commonly capsule
  • china rose: ⊕ ⚥ K(5) C5 A(∞) G(5), line over C and A, G underlined
  • uses: cotton fibre, okra vegetable, china rose ornamental

Family Cruciferae

  • Cruciferae: mustard family (Brassicaceae)
  • corolla cruciform; stamens tetradynamous (2 short + 4 long)
  • ovary superior, parietal; false septum stretched across the replum
  • fruit usually siliqua or silicula; seeds commonly classified non-endospermic
  • mustard: ⊕ ⚥ K2+2 C4 A2+4 G(2), G underlined
  • uses: mustard oil, radish root, cabbage bud

Family Leguminosae

  • Leguminosae: pea family (Fabaceae); root nodules fix nitrogen
  • traditional subfamilies: Papilionoideae, Caesalpinioideae, Mimosoideae; LPWG 2017 recognises six
  • papilionaceous corolla: standard, 2 wings, keel (vexillary)
  • diadelphous stamens: (9) + 1
  • one carpel, marginal placentation; fruit legume
  • formula: % ⚥ K(5) C1+2+(2) A(9)+1 G1, G underlined

Family Compositae

  • Compositae: sunflower family (Asteraceae); inflorescence capitulum
  • ray florets: strap-shaped; disc florets: tubular
  • calyx: pappus; stamens: syngenesious (anthers united)
  • ovary inferior, basal placentation, one ovule; fruit cypsela
  • disc floret: ⊕ ⚥ K pappus C(5) A(5) G(2), line over C and A, line above G
  • uses: sunflower and safflower oil, lettuce salad

Family Gramineae

  • Gramineae: grass family (Poaceae); culm with solid nodes
  • leaf: sheath round the stem, ligule at the junction
  • spikelet: 2 glumes; floret in a lemma and a palea
  • perianth usually 2 lodicules; stamens commonly 3 (rice 6; bamboos variable)
  • fruit caryopsis: wall fused with the seed coat
  • formula: Br % ⚥ P2 A3 G(2), G underlined

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