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In angiosperms, a hypanthium or floral cup is a structure where basal portions of the Sepal, the petal, and the form a cup-shaped tube. It is sometimes called a floral tube, a term that is also used for corolla tube and calyx tube."Lecture 7 – Pharmacognosy and Botany (1st Semester)" Azerbaijan Medical University, n.d. Accessed May 9, 2025. It often contains the of the plant. It is present in many plant families, although varies in structural dimensions and appearance. This differentiation between the hypanthium in particular species is useful for identification. Some geometry forms are obconic shapes, as in heteromeles ( Heteromeles), whereas some are saucer-shaped, as in Mitella caulescens.
Its presence is diagnostic of many families, including the Rosaceae, Grossulariaceae, and Fabaceae. In some cases, it can be so deep, with such a narrow top, that the flower can appear to have an inferior ovarythe ovary is below the other attached floral parts. The hypanthium is known by different common names in differing species. In the , it is referred to as the gum nut; in roses it is called the rose hip.
The flowers of the rose family (Rosaceae) always have some type of hypanthium or at least a floral cup from which the sepals, petals and stamens all arise, which is lined with tissue known as nectaries, which produce nectar, a Sugar substance that attracts to the flower birds and bees, which receive pollen from the lining of the hypanthium, subsequently transferring it to the next flower they visit, usually a neighbouring plant, facilitating pollination.
The stamens borne on the hypanthium are the pollen-producing sex organ of the flower. The hypanthium helps in many ways with the reproduction pathways of most plants. It provides weather protection and a medium to sustain the lost pollen, increasing the probability of fertility and cross-pollination. The retained pollen can then attach to such as birds, bees, moths, beetles, bats, butterflies and other animals. Wind can act as an instigator for fertilisation. The hypanthium is also an adaptive feature for structural support. It helps the plant stem fuse with the flower, in turn strengthening the bond and overall stability and integrity.
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