plant reproduction

• sepal = protects unopened flower - not on all
• petals = brightly coloured to attract insects
• stamen = male parts of flower:

  • filament = holds anther up
  • anther = produces male sex cell (gamete) and pollen
• carpell = female parts of the flower

  • stigma = top of female parts - collects pollen grains
  • style = holds up stigma
  • ovary = produces female sex cell (gamete) in the ovules
• pollination = the taking up of pollen from an anther and transfering it to the stigma
• cross pollination = 2 different plants
• self pollination = same plant
• wind pollinated flowers= pollen travels on wind
• wind pollinated flowers characteristics:

  • dull and small petals
  • no scent
  • no nectar
  • lots of pollen on anther - dry and smooth - anther dangles loosely to expose pollen
  • long and loose filament
  • long style - sticky and feathery stigma to catch pollen - out flower
• insect pollinated flower characteristics:

  • bright and large petals - attract insects
  • scent and nectar - attract insects
  • small and sticky pollen - stick to insect
  • firm and short filament - in flower - allow for insect to land on
  • firm, short style - sticky stigma - take sticky pollen of insect
• asexual reproduction:

  • parent plant send out new growth called runner and genetically identical offspring plant grows on other end - forms roots
• asexual production = eg. buds, bulbs and cuttings of plants
• germination = the process of a seed sprouting and growing into a plant
• germination needs:

  • water = activate enzymes to break down food reserves
  • oxygen = for respiration to produce energy
  • suitable temperature - optimal temperature for enzymes
• fertilisation = when pollen grain nucleus fuses with ovum nucleus
• plant fertilisation:

  • pollen grain lands on stigma
  • pollen tube begins to grow down style
  • pollen nucleus moves down pollen tube
  • pollen tube enters ovule through hole
  • pollen nucleus fuses with ovum nucleus - ovule becomes a seed, ovary becomes a fruit