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Petal-like flower segments or lobes - number (single flowers only)

In some flowers, determination of the identity of the floral whorls is difficult: sepals may look like petals; two whorls that are actually calyx and corolla may not be obviously so; or two whorls may look like calyx and corolla but are not.

This feature is useful if you cannot identify the perianth whorl(s) on your flower as calyx and corolla, or, if the calyx is not resolvable, as tepals or perianth segments (see the feature perianth constitution). Count the number of segments (or lobes of a flower with connate segments) that look most petaloid to you, i.e. large, showy, or colored.

Use this feature only if the segments you are counting are in a single whorl OR if the segments are in two similar, alternating whorls, as in the monocots. Some double flower cultivars have more than the normal number, or extra whorl(s), of petaloid perianth parts. Skip this feature if your flower is semi-double or double.

Tepals in two alternating whorls (left), a single whorl of perianth segments (middle), sepals larger than petals (right).