PLS 6 Exam 1 Practice

Calla lilies present their bloom with a distinctive spathe-spadix inflorescence. The spathe is a large, colorful or white modified leaf that forms a sheath around the central structure, while the spadix is a spike bearing many tiny flowers arranged along its length. Together, this pair creates the recognizable “flower” in calla lilies, even though the true flowers are the ones on the spadix. The other plant parts—leaves, roots, stems, seeds, fruit—are not the features that define the flower’s appearance.