A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants (plants of the division Magnoliophyta, also called angiosperms). The biological function of a flower is to mediate the union of male sperm with female ovum in order to produce seeds. The process begins with pollination, is followed by fertilization, leading to the formation and dispersal of the seeds. For the higher plants, seeds are the next generation, and serve as the primary means by which individuals of a species are dispersed across the landscape. The grouping of flowers on a plant is called the inflorescence.
In addition to serving as the reproductive organs of flowering plants, flowers have long been admired and used by humans, mainly to beautify their environment but also as a source of food.
Flowering plants usually face selective pressure to optimise the transfer of their pollen, and this is typically reflected in the morphology of the flowers and the behaviour of the plants. Pollen may be transferred between plants via a number of 'vectors'. Some plants make use of abiotic vectors — namely wind (anemophily) or, much less commonly, water (hydrophily). Others use biotic vectors including insects (entomophily), birds (ornithophily), bats (chiropterophily) or other animals. Some plants make use of multiple vectors, but many are highly specialised.
Cleistogamous flowers are self pollinated, after which they may or may not open. Many Viola and some Salvia species are known to have these types of flowers.
The flowers of plants that make use of biotic pollen vectors commonly have glands called nectaries that act as an incentive for animals to visit the flower. Some flowers have patterns, called nectar guides, that show pollinators where to look for nectar. Flowers also attract pollinators by scent and color. Still other flowers use mimicry to attract pollinators. Some species of orchids, for example, produce flowers resembling female bees in color, shape, and scent. Flowers are also specialized in shape and have an arrangement of the stamens that ensures that pollen grains are transferred to the bodies of the pollinator when it lands in search of its attractant (such as nectar, pollen, or a mate). In pursuing this attractant from many flowers of the same species, the pollinator transfers pollen to the stigmas—arranged with equally pointed precision—of all of the flowers it visits.
Anemophilous flowers use the wind to move pollen from one flower to the next. Examples include grasses, birch trees, ragweed and maples. They have no need to attract pollinators and therefore tend not to be "showy" flowers. Male and female reproductive organs are generally found in separate flowers, the male flowers having a number of long filaments terminating in exposed stamens, and the female flowers having long, feather-like stigmas. Whereas the pollen of animal-pollinated flowers tends to be large-grained, sticky, and rich in protein (another "reward" for pollinators), anemophilous flower pollen is usually small-grained, very light, and of little nutritional value to animals.
The trip took me to the New York City, what a wonderful place! Great City and Very Busy! I've seen busy people, busy street, towering buildings and a lot more. Great cultural diversity, wonderful food (of all varieties), anything you want and more. I had a wonderful experience. I enjoyed every minute of it.
I was very impressed with what I saw. I passed through Times Square, then "the Empire State Building”, a giant building. And I went straight to the very known Fifth Avenue to enjoy the excitement of Rockefeller Center. There I saw the biggest and nicest Christmas tree in NY. The fifth very is a very interesting place from where many shops and the city and its people impressed me a lot.
More than fifteen years ago, as a young student growing up in China, I dreamed of New York City as the place to see. New York city symbolized the United States, the greatest country on earth. I longed to see it. I wanted to even live there some day. Although this trip is not my first visit to the city, I still feel that there is something very special about New York City. It is a city that has welcomed and accommodated people from all over the world. The "typical" New Yorker we meet today may be African American, Italian, Dutch, Irish, German, Israeli, Ukrainian, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Jewish, Protestant, Catholic, Shinto, Buddhist, or Moslem. The cultural diversity has made it possible that we can find just about anything we may want. There is always something for everyone. For example, New York has a wonderful variety of restaurants for just about every type of food we can imagine. We walk down one street, get Chinese food for lunch (excellent food, great prices), then turn a corner, stop in an Italian bakery for a quick snack, or turn one more corner we may find Russian Tea Room, etc. In addition, Asian cuisine offers a diverse variety. We have many choices like Chinese, Thai, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese. These choices offer an opportunity to experience a "taste" of the very unique Asian cultures.
I’m so proud to see the economic prosperity in New York City. Today the United States of America is regarded as a global economic leader. The standard of living in the U.S. is higher than that of most other nations. Our nation is considered an economic super-power. Don’t forget that immigrants have played major roles in building and contributing to our economy. The overwhelming majority of immigrants including more recent immigrants enter the United States in search of jobs by working hard and a chance at a better life for themselves and their families. I believe our economy will continue to grow, directly or indirectly, by the continuing inflow of immigrants. It is this cultural diversity that has helped shape the nation and contributed to make our country more competitive and stronger.
