Various morphological features are used to describe a flowering plant. The description has to be brief, in a simple and scientific language and presented in a proper sequence. The plant is described beginning with its habit, vegetative characters – roots, stem and leaves and then floral characters inflorescence and flower parts. After describing various parts of plant, a floral diagram and a floral formula are presented. The floral formula is represented by some symbols. In the floral formula, \(\mathbf{B r}\) stands for bracteate \(\mathbf{K}\) stands for calyx , C for corolla, \(\mathbf{P}\) for perianth, \(\mathbf{A}\) for androecium and \(\mathbf{G}\) for Gynoecium, \(\underline{\mathbf{G}}\) superior ovary and \(\overline{\mathbf{G}}\) for inferior ovary, for male, for female, for bisexual plants, \(\oplus\) for actinomorphic and \(\%\) and for zygomorphic nature of flower. Fusion is indicated by enclosing the figure within bracket and adhesion by a line drawn above the symbols of the floral parts. A floral diagram provides information about the number of parts of a flower, their arrangement and the relation they have with one another (Figure 5.16). The position of the mother axis with respect to the flower is represented by a dot on the top of the floral diagram. Calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium are drawn in successive whorls, calyx being the outermost and the gynoecium being in the centre. Floral formula also shows cohesion and adhesion within parts of whorls and between whorls. The floral diagram and floral formula in Figure 5.16 represents the mustard plant (Family: Brassicaceae).

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