Here's a breakdown of the key characteristics:
* Symmetry: The most important feature is the radial symmetry. You can cut the flower in any direction through its center and get two mirror-image halves.
* Appearance: Actinomorphic flowers often have a star-shaped or circular appearance, with petals arranged in a symmetrical pattern around the center.
* Petal arrangement: The petals are usually of similar shape and size, and they are arranged in a circular or spiral pattern around the center of the flower.
Examples of actinomorphic flowers:
* Roses
* Daisies
* Tulips
* Lilies
* Buttercups
Contrast with Zygomorphic flowers:
* Zygomorphic flowers are bilaterally symmetrical, meaning they can only be divided into two identical halves by one specific plane. They often have a more irregular shape, with specialized petals or sepals.
* Examples: Orchids, snapdragons, pea flowers
Key takeaway: Actinomorphic flowers are radially symmetrical, meaning they can be divided into identical halves along any plane through the center. They often have a star-shaped or circular appearance due to the symmetrical arrangement of their petals.