INTRODUCTION
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Most flowering plants reproduce sexually i.e., through seed formation. We know
sexual reproduction is incomplete without fertilization. The male and female
gametes must meet for fertilization and further development. Reproduction is the
life process which helps an organism procreate its own offspring. There are a lot
of events involved in this. In plants, pollination is one among them.
Parts of a Flower
Most flowers have four main parts: sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels. The stamens are the
male part whereas the carpels are the female part of the flower. Most flowers are
hermaphrodite where they contain both male and female parts. Others may contain one of the
two parts and may be male or female.
• Peduncle: This is the stalk of the flower.
• Receptacle: It is that part of the flower to which the stalk is attached to. It is small and
found at the centre of the base of the flower.
• Sepals: These are the small, leaf-like parts growing at the base of the petals. They form
the outermost whorl of the flower. Collectively, sepals are known as the calyx. The main
function of the calyx and its sepals is to protect the flower before it blossoms (in the bud
stage).
• Petals: This layer lies just above the sepal layer. They are often bright in colour as their
main function is to attract pollinators such as insects, butterflies etc to the flower. The petals
are collectively known as the corolla.
• Stamens: These are the male parts of a flower. Many stamens are collectively known as
the androecium. They are structurally divided into two parts:
• Filament: the part that is long and slender and attached the anther to the flower.
• Anthers: It is the head of the stamen and is responsible for producing the pollen which is
transferred to the pistil or female parts of the same or another flower to bring about
fertilization.
• Pistil: This forms the female parts of a flower. A collection of pistils is called the
gynoecium
Pistil consists of four parts
• a Style -is a long slender stalk that holds the stigma. Once the pollen reaches the stigma,
the style starts to become hollow and forms a tube called the pollen tube which takes the
pollen to the ovaries to enable fertilization.
• b Stigma– This is found at the tip of the style. It forms the head of the pistil. The stigma
contains a sticky substance whose job is to catch pollen grains from different pollinators
or those dispersed through the wind. They are responsible to begin the process of
fertilization.
• c Ovary – They form the base of the pistil. The ovary holds the ovules.
• d Ovules– These are the egg cells of a flower. They are contained in the ovary. In the
event of a favourable pollination where a compatible pollen reaches the stigma and
eventually reaches the ovary to fuse with the ovules, this fertilized product forms the fruit
and the ovules become the seeds of the fruit.
d Ovules– These are the egg cells of a flower. They are contained in the ovary.
In the event of a favourable pollination where a compatible pollen reaches the
stigma and eventually reaches the ovary to fuse with the ovules, this fertilized
product forms the fruit and the ovules become the seeds of the fruit.
