what does the petal do in a flower

Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, birds, and wasps. The major function of petals is to attract insects for pollination and to protect the reproductive organs, which are at the center of the flower. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of modified leaves called sepals, which collectively form the calyx and lie just beneath the corolla. The calyx and the corolla together make up the perianth, the non-reproductive portion of a flower. When the petals and sepals of a flower are difficult to distinguish, they are collectively called tepals.