How many petals does the garden iris have?

Question

Okay so it has 3 stands and 3 falls but arent the reproductive parts housed inside another 3, or are those all part of the falls?

Answer 1

Answer to the question will be a lengthy one and not without illustrations.
BASIC FLORAL STRUCTURE ==
Flower is a modified shoot (Stem + leaves) for the purpose of reproduction.
The floral leaves are mostly in whorled arrangement , so they are called floral whorl.
The outer or the lower two whorls are called Accessory whorls as they do not directly participate in reproduction.
The inner or the upper two are the essential floral whorls as the are directly involved in the reproduction. The whole structure is compact and condensed (It is mostly attractive as well!)


1) The CALYX = It is the outermost or the lower most floral whorl and the individual members are called SEPALS. Mostly but not always green and protects the inner whorls in bud.
It is accessory whorl. The members are free or united or fused to form calyx tube.
http://www.biotech.kth.se/iobb/news/kenneth/hibiscus-calyx.jpg

2) The COROLLA = It is the next whorl and members are called PETALS . Mostly attractively colored for very obvious reason. It is accessory whorl.The members are free or united or fused to form corolla tube.
http://cache.eb.com/eb/image?id=91239&rendTypeId=34

3 ANDROECIUM = It is the third floral whorl and made up of individual members called STAMENS or MICROSPOROPHYLLS.
It is essential and male reproductive whorl as stamens (Anthers at their top) produce pollen grains and they in turn produce MALE GAMETES.
http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/library/webb/BOT201/Angiosperm/AnthersDaturaLab.jpg

4) GYNOECIUM = It is the fourth and the last floral whorl and made up of CARPELS OR MEGASPOROPYHLLS . It is essential and female reproductive whorl as the carpels have ovules in side their ovaries and ovules produce the female gamete.
http://www.life.uiuc.edu/help/digitalflowers/picts/Flowers/44-%20Syncarpous%20gynoecium.jpg

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/nlc_biology/1411/lab/flfr/slide7.jpg

In monocot flowers ( very often) there is no distinction between the calyx and the corolla , as both the floral whorls are identical . The therm PERIANTH is used instead and the individual members are called Perianth lobes or more popularly , TEPALS .

In Iris( A monocot plant of Family Iridaceae , a relative of Gladiolus ) there are six tepals 3 outer and 3 inner ( eqivalent to corolla of dicot flower ).
The outer three are standard ( not stand ) and the inner three are fall,

http://images.google.co.in/imgres?imgurl=http://www.backyardnature.net/pix/iris1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.backyardnature.net/fl_iris.htm&h=238&w=310&sz=13&hl=en&start=14&tbnid=BkfDeEauQ-DDcM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=117&prev=/images%3Fq%3DIris%2Bstamen%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Therefore, though style arms look like corolla petals, they are actually part of the blossom's female sex organ.

Male sex organs or stamens DO NOT look like brush. These are the tethers for insects to hang on and not slip .

Answer 2

Three (typical of monocots). There are three petal-like, showy sepals (called "falls" in irises), three less-conspicuous upright petals ("standards"). There are also three stamens and three petaloid ("petal-like") styles on the pistil (which has an inferior ovary--that is, it is located under the sepals and petals).

Answer 3

remember that technically speaking they are tepals, not petals (perigon, not corolla). they are indeed 3 + 3, with male reproductive organs (look like a brush) are attached to the falls

Answer 4

Six. The three uprights are called "stands", and the three hanging ones are called "falls"..

Answer 5

same as a bycycle two.