Upper Block Cycles - Reproduction in Plants

Vocabulary flashcards covering plant sexual reproduction, flower parts, pollination, fertilisation, and seed dispersal methods.

Reproduction Purpose

Living things reproduce to ensure continuity of their own kind.

Nucleus (in reproduction)

Contains genetic information that enables characteristics of organisms to be passed on from parents to their offspring/young.

Processes of Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

The four main processes involved: pollination, fertilisation (seed production), seed dispersal, and germination.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grain from the anther to the stigma of the same flower or a different flower of the same kind.

Pollen Grain

The male sex cell of a plant.

Pollinators

Agents of pollination, including wind and insects (or birds), that help transfer pollen grains.

Wind Pollination Adaptations

Features such as feathery stigma and anthers that hang outside the petals.

Insect Pollination Adaptations

Features such as colourful petals and nice scented-nectar to attract insects.

Anther

Produces pollen grains and stores them in pollen sacs.

Filament

Supports and holds the anther up.

Stigma

Receives pollen grains; it is sticky and can trap pollen grains.

Style

Connects the stigma to the ovary.

Ovary

Protects the ovule and becomes the fruit after fertilisation has taken place.

Fruit

Formed from the ovary after fertilisation to protect the seeds.

Ovule

Contains the female reproductive/sex cell and becomes the seed after fertilisation has taken place.

Petal

Attracts pollinators such as birds and insects to the flower.

Fertilisation

The process whereby the male reproductive cell fuses with the female reproductive cell.

Seed Dispersal

The process whereby seeds are dispersed by wind, animals, water, or explosive action/splitting.

Wind Dispersal Characteristics

Wing-like structures (help the seed/fruit to float in the air for a longer time), light, and small.

Animal Dispersal Characteristics

Hooks, stiff hair, juicy and fleshy fruits, and hard/indigestible seeds (large seeds spat out after eating; small indigestible seeds passed out in droppings).