Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store
seo-qna
SearchIcon
banner

What is the location and function of the thalamus in a flower?

Answer
VerifiedVerified
424.5k+ views
Hint: A flower is a reproductive structure found in flowering plants. It is also known as a bloom or blossom. A flower's biological function is to aid reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm and eggs.

Complete answer:
The receptacle or torus (an older term, thalamus, as in Thalamiflorae) is the thickened part of a stem (pedicel) from which the flower organs grow in angiosperms. The receptacle of some accessory fruits, such as the pome and strawberry, gives rise to the edible part of the fruit. Rubus species produce fruit in the form of a cluster of drupelets on top of a conical receptacle. When you pick a raspberry the receptacle separates from the fruit, but in blackberries, it remains attached to the fruit.

Thalamus can be found near the flower's stalk. It is an old term for the part of the flower that is specifically thickened part of the stem known as the receptacle. The flower's structures develop from this point. It is, in other words, a modified stem with distinct internodes and nodes. It is useful for supplying nutrients to flowers.

After fertilization, the corolla and androecium wither, as do the stigma and style of the gynoecium. The calyx is still present in some species. Whereas the pedicel grows stronger to support the fruit. The thalamus, also known as the flower's receptacle, is a platform on which the ovary develops into a fruit.

Note: The calyx is made up of four whorls that are arranged on the thalamus. The outermost whorl is made up of sepals. The corolla is the second whorl of the flower, and it is made up of petals.