A petal is one of the colored, leaf-like parts that form a flower's bloom. When you look at a rose, daisy, or tulip, those soft, colorful pieces arranged in a circle or pattern around the center are petals. Most flowers have multiple petals: a daisy might have twenty or thirty white petals radiating from its yellow center, while a tulip has six large petals that cup together.

Petals serve an important purpose beyond just looking beautiful. Their bright colors and sweet scents attract bees, butterflies, and other insects that help flowers reproduce by spreading pollen from one flower to another. Without petals catching the attention of these helpful visitors, many plants couldn't make seeds.

The texture and shape of petals vary widely. Rose petals feel velvety and soft, while some orchid petals are waxy and smooth. Sunflower petals are actually long and flat, almost like tongues stretching outward. When petals fall off or are plucked away, people sometimes collect them: rose petals scattered at weddings, pressed flowers saved in books, or petals floating in a bowl of water.