What Is a Keel Petal? The Boat Shaped Petal of Pea Flowers
A keel petal is the boat shaped part of a pea flower that wraps around the stamens and pistil. USDA NRCS says the keel is two small petals fused together, named for their boat shape.
The short answer
The keel is two petals fused into a boat shape. University of Minnesota Extension says legume flowers have a standard or banner, wings and a keel. The keel surrounds the male and female parts. USDA NRCS adds that ten stamens sit inside the keel of a pea flower.
What is a keel petal?
It is one of three pea flower petal types. USDA NRCS describes the garden pea flower with five green fused sepals and five petals of different sizes. The top petal is the standard and two small petals fuse into the keel. Two more taper toward the base as the wings. Other flower parts are covered in cannabis seed anatomy.
| Part | What it is | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard or banner | The top petal | USDA NRCS |
| Wings | Two petals that taper toward the base | USDA NRCS |
| Keel | Two fused petals around the stamens and pistil | USDA NRCS |
| Sepals | Five green fused sepals | USDA NRCS |
How does the keel help pollination?
It holds the sex organs. USDA NRCS says nine of the ten stamens form a tube around the pistil, with one loose stamen. Pea flowers are mainly self pollinating. Minnesota notes that showy legume flowers draw native bees as well as honeybees. More on bee visits is in what roles bees play in outdoor cannabis.
Which flowers have a keel?
Legume family flowers. NC State lists sweet pea in the bean family with pea like flowers in long clusters from May to July. It describes bean flowers as bilaterally symmetrical and pea like, in yellow, white, pink or red. Leaf traits are covered in cannabis leaf anatomy.
How to: step by step
- Pick an open pea, bean or sweet pea flower.
- Hold a hand lens close to the bloom.
- Find the large top petal first.
- Find the two wing petals.
- Look for the boat shaped keel.
- Note the plant name and date.
Troubleshooting
Keel hard to see: choose an open flower.
Keel and wings confused: the keel is two petals fused into one boat. The wings are separate petals.
No stamens visible: USDA NRCS says they sit inside the keel.
Kind Seed Co shares these plant notes for growers of all kinds. Garden pairing ideas are in companion plants when growing marijuana.
Sources
- Plant guide: pea (Pisum sativum), USDA NRCS
- Forage legumes, University of Minnesota Extension
- Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
- Phaseolus vulgaris (bean), NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
FAQ
Is the keel one petal or two?
Two. USDA NRCS says the two small middle petals of a pea flower are fused together and called the keel.
What are the banner and wings?
Minnesota says the standard is also called the banner. USDA NRCS calls it the top petal. The wings are two petals that taper toward the base.
Do beans have keels too?
Yes. Minnesota says legume flowers have a standard, wings and keel. NC State places bean in the legume family Fabaceae with pea like flowers.
Do pea flowers pollinate themselves?
Mostly. USDA NRCS says pea flowers are primarily self pollinating, which lets breeders create true breeding lines.
What is inside the keel?
USDA NRCS says the pea keel holds ten stamens. Nine form a tube around the pistil and one stamen is loose.
