Actinomorphic Flower

What Does Actinomorphic Flower Mean?

A actinomorphic flower is a type of flower that possesses radial symmetry. Any type of cut through the center will divide the flower into two equal parts.

Also known as "star-shaped", “regular”, “radial” or a “polysymmetric” flower, actinomorphic flowers can be bisected at any point and have two identical halves. Most flowers are actinomorphic. On a higher level, this is known as floral symmetry.

Maximum Yield Explains Actinomorphic Flower

An actinomorphic flower can be divided into three or more identical parts, each of which are identical to each other when based on the rotating point of the center of the flower. Typically, each divided part would contain one tepal, or one petal and one sepal, etc.

Lilies, petunies, wild roses, and buttercups are just a few examples of actinomorphic flowers.

Rather than actinomorphic (regular), a flower can be zygomorphic (irregular). When flowers are zygomorphic, they are only bilaterally symmetrical, meaning they are able to be bisected into two halves, forming mirror images. Snapdragon and Gladiolus flowers (Iridaceae) are zygomorphic, rather than actinomorphic.

Some flowers will have no axis of symmetry at all, which is often because they are spiraled.