Tulip Anatomy in 3D: Bulb, Petals, Stem and Inside the Flower
A tulip grows from a bulb, an underground food store that lets it burst into flower each spring. In the 3D Plant Anatomy simulator you can turn a tulip around, zoom into each part, slice it open and watch water flow through it in X-ray.
Explore in 3DFour ways to see the tulip
Whole plant
Cross-section
X-ray water flowTulip quick facts
| Plant group | Flowering plant, lily family |
|---|---|
| Grows from | A bulb |
| Flowers | In spring |
| Native to | Central Asia and Turkey |
| Petals | Usually 6 petal-like parts |
Inside the tulip
Cut a tulip bulb in half and you see thick layered leaves wrapped around a tiny flower bud, a store of food for the next spring. Inside the flower are six stamens that carry pollen and a central pistil that becomes the seed pod.
Parts of the tulip
In the Parts up close view you can tap each of these parts to zoom in:
- Inside the flower
- Six stamens with pollen surround the pistil in the middle, where the seeds form.
- Petals
- Bright, cup-shaped petals open in the sun and close again at night.
- Leaf
- Long, waxy leaves make food that is stored in the bulb for next year.
- Stem
- The stem holds the flower up and carries water from the bulb and roots.
- Bulb
- The bulb is a store of food made of thick, layered leaves, ready for next spring.
- Roots
- Roots grow from the base of the bulb to take in water.
Interesting facts about the tulip
- A tulip grows from a bulb, a store of food made of thick layered leaves.
- A cut tulip can keep growing a little taller in the vase.
- Many tulips close their petals at night and open them again in the day.
- Wild tulips come from Central Asia and Turkey.
- In the 1630s, tulip bulbs in the Netherlands became so prized that some sold for huge sums, an event called tulip mania.
Compare: Monocot vs Dicot: Seeds, Leaves, Roots and Flowers in 3D · Bulb vs Seed: Two Ways to Start a Plant, in 3D
More plants in 3D
Tulip anatomy questions
What is a tulip bulb?
An underground store of food made of thick, layered leaves, with a tiny flower bud in the middle.
Why do tulips close at night?
Their petals respond to light and temperature, closing when it gets dark and cool and opening again in the warmth.
Do tulips keep growing after they are cut?
Yes. A cut tulip can grow a little longer in the vase.
Where do tulips come from?
Wild tulips come from Central Asia and Turkey. They became famous in the Netherlands.
The 3D Plant Anatomy simulator is made by Julian Neagu, a solo founder in London, as part of VisionVix Simulators. It is free to use in the browser on desktop and phone, with no sign-up.