fivepetaled

Fivepetaled is a botanical descriptive term applied to flowers whose corollas consist of five petals. It denotes pentamerous floral organization and is commonly used in field guides, floral keys, and horticultural descriptions. The term is descriptive rather than taxonomic, and it can refer to a wide range of species across various plant families.

Morphology and variation: Five-petaled flowers typically have the petals arranged in a single whorl around the floral center. Many exhibit actinomorphic (radially symmetric) flowers, though some taxa with five petals display zygomorphy (bilateral symmetry). Petal shapes are diverse, from rounded to elongated, and colors span the spectrum. While five is the standard count, some cultivated forms may show petal doubling or fusion, which can alter appearance but not the basic five-petal count.

Taxonomic context and distribution: The pentamerous flower form is widespread among dicotyledons, and is a common reference point in the description of numerous families, including Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Malvaceae. The characteristic five-petal pattern helps in quick recognition and identification, though it is one of many features used in conjunction with sepals, stamens, and leaf morphology.

Examples: Species with clearly five-petaled blooms include Ranunculus (buttercups), Prunus species (cherries and plums), and Malus domestica (apples). These examples illustrate the broad applicability of the five-petal description across different plant lineages.

See also: pentamerous, dicot flower, corolla, actinomorphy, zygomorphy.