Plant Reproduction

Why can flowers make you sneeze?

What is pollen?• Microscopic, dust-like grains released by the male

parts of flowers that contain male gametes.

What is the function of flowers?1. Flowers produce gametes.2. Flowers attract animals that can pollinate the

plant, and they are where pollination happens.3. If a zygote forms, the flowers nourishes it (gives it

food) and protects it until it becomes a seed.

What are the male parts of a flower?• Anther = part that makes male gametes (pollen)• Filament = thin tube that holds up the anther• Stamen = filament + anther

What are the female parts of a flower?• Pistil (or carpal) = the structure in the very center of

the flower; includes the stigma, style, and ovaries.• Stigma = top part of the pistil, where pollen lands• Style = long tube below the stigma; pollen travels

down it to reach the ovaries.• Ovaries = bottom part of the pistil, where female

gametes (eggs) are produced and stored.

What happens during pollination?1. A pollen grain lands on the sticky stigma.2. The pollen travels down the style (a long tube).3. The pollen reaches the ovaries, and the male

gamete joins the female gamete to produce a zygote (this is called “fertilization”).

Why do flowers have big, bright petals and nectar?

• Bright petals and nectar attract insects and other animals, which can pollinate flowers by carrying pollen from the anther to the stigma.

• Insects can also carry pollen from one flower to another flower.

How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

1) Wind: some seeds, like dandelion seeds, are designed to be carried by wind.

How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

2) Water: some seeds, like coconuts, can float in water to other locations.

How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

3) Burs: Some seeds can get stuck in an animal’s fur and carried to a different location.

How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

4) Fruit: Seeds in the middle of fruit can be eaten by an animal, digested, and dropped in other locations.

How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

5) Some seeds, like acorns, can be collected and buried by animals, who might never come back.

How does fruit form?1) A flower is pollinated. 2) Fertilization occurs, and a zygote forms.3) The ovary where the zygote is swells up and

becomes a fruit. Meanwhile, the petals and other parts of the flower fall off so only the fruit is left.

Exit Ticket1. Why can flowers make you sneeze?2. Why do flowers have such bright petals?3. Which part of the flower makes pollen – male or

female?4. What part of the flower does fruit come from?5. How do plants disperse (spread) their seeds?

Name at least 3 different ways.