How many petals and sepals (tepals) does a true lily have?

How many petals and sepals (tepals) does a true lily have?

• A. 3 petals inside and 3 sepals outside
• B. 4 petals and 4 sepals
• C. 5 petals and 5 sepals
• D. 6 petals and 0 sepals

Answer: (A)

In true lilies, floral parts come in threes and you can’t separate the outer and inner groups visually. The outer circle is made of three sepals, and the inner circle is made of three petals. Because petals and sepals look alike in lilies, we call them tepals. So the flower has three inner petals and three outer sepals, totaling six tepals. The other patterns don’t fit the classic monocot arrangement of two whorls of three parts each.

In true lilies, floral parts come in threes and you can’t separate the outer and inner groups visually. The outer circle is made of three sepals, and the inner circle is made of three petals. Because petals and sepals look alike in lilies, we call them tepals. So the flower has three inner petals and three outer sepals, totaling six tepals. The other patterns don’t fit the classic monocot arrangement of two whorls of three parts each.