flowering plant

noun

plural flowering plants

: any of a class (Angiospermae) of vascular plants that have male and female reproductive structures enclosed in a flower, that have seeds which arise from ovules contained in the ovaries, and that produce dry or fleshy fruits after double fertilization : angiosperm

The butterflies feed off the nectar of any flowering plant and lay their eggs on what's called a host plant.

—Michael Fitzpatrick

About 75% of all flowering plants rely on animal pollinators and over 200,000 species of animals act as pollinators.

—Steve Smith

Duckweed, the smallest flowering plant, measures less than 5 millimeters across.

—Timothy Cooney et al.

Examples of flowering plant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Greek citrus trees add a fragrant touch with their lush foliage and fruits, while flowering plants like lavender, bougainvillea, and hibiscus lend vibrant hues. —Christine Chitnis, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Aug. 2024

Fun Fact: Lily-of-the-valley is a woodland flowering plant found in the Northern Hemisphere. —Meena Azzollini, Parents, 30 July 2024

More recent studies have even discovered the conditions necessary for the early rainforest to spring up—which were a consequence of both extinction and the adaptations of flowering plants. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 July 2024

How ecologically critical are insect pollinators? Mallinger: A small percentage of flowering plants are pollinated primarily by wind, but new research suggests that as much as 90% require animal pollinators. —Rachel Mallinger, The Conversation, 19 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1725, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

flowering plant

noun

: any of a major group of higher plants that produce flowers, fruits, and seeds with the seeds in a closed ovary

called also angiosperm

compare seed plant