Vexillum (botany)

Do you know what a flag is? It's a piece of cloth with special colors and designs on it that represent a group, like a country or a sports team.

Well, plants have their own special flags too! They’re called vexillum (pronounced vek-si-luhm) and they are a type of petal that is found in the flowers of certain plants called legumes (think beans, peas, and lentils).

The vexillum is a large petal that is often shaped like a little boat, and it usually sits on top of the other petals. It's really important because it is the part of the flower that helps attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, which are needed to help the plant reproduce.

Not only are vexillum important for reproduction, but they also play a role in protecting the flower's reproductive organs. The vexillum protects the stamen (where the plant's pollen comes from) and the pistil (where the pollen fertilizes the plant) from the weather and other environmental factors.

So just like a flag, vexillum are a special part of a plant that helps it stand out and communicate with the world around it. And just like we take care of our country’s flag, plants take care of their vexillum to make sure they get the attention they need to survive!