A phenotype refers to the observable characteristics or traits of an organism, which can include physical attributes like height, color, and shape, as well as behavioral traits. These characteristics result from the interaction between an organism's genetic makeup, known as its genotype, and environmental factors. For example, two plants of the same species may have different flower colors due to variations in their genotypes or differences in their growing conditions, such as soil type or sunlight exposure. Understanding phenotypes is essential in fields like genetics and evolutionary biology, as it helps scientists study how traits are inherited and expressed.