Sexual reproduction in plants
Plant reproductive system:
● Sepals - protects unopened flowers.
● Petals - flowering plants have petals which are brightly coloured to attract pollinating
insects to the plant. Insects are also attracted by scents and nectar in the plant.
● Anthers - produces male sex cells in the form of pollen. This pollen is then either picked
up by insects or blown off the plant and carried in the wind.
● Stigmas - the female part of the plant which collects pollen from insects or from the air.
In wind-pollinated plants, the stigmas and anthers hang out of the plant where they are
more exposed to the wind.
● Ovaries - produces the female sex cells which are contained in the ovules. Fertilisation
occurs when the nucleus of this fuses with a pollen cell nucleus.
Sexual reproduction in plants takes place in the flowers using pollen. Cross-pollination occurs
when grains of pollen are transferred from the anthers of one plant to the stigma of another
plant of the same species. Some flowers can produce male and female gametes, and thus can
self-pollinate by transferring pollen from their anther to their stigma. This is considered as
sexual reproduction as there is still a male and female gamete.
Cross-pollination vs self-pollination:
● Cross-pollination results in more genetic diversity in a species, thus the species can
adapt and is more resilient to diseases.
● Self-pollination uses less energy as the plant does not need to expend energy in
attracting pollinating insects.
● Self-pollinating plants can spread to areas where the species does not currently existas other
pollinators are not required. Cross-pollinating plants, however, are reliant on pollinators.
● Cross-pollination can only occur when the flowers are open.
Methods of pollination:
There are two methods of pollination in plants: insect pollination and wind pollination. In
insect pollination, insects are attracted to the plant, where pollen sticks to them. They then
move to another plant and drop the pollen, causing the second plant to be pollinated. In wind
pollination, the wind blows pollen off the first plant and carries it to the second plant. Pollen
that is carried by insects is adapted to be sticky and have hooks which attach to the insect.
Pollen carried by the wind does not need to stick to anything, thus is smooth. It is also very
Plant reproductive system:
● Sepals - protects unopened flowers.
● Petals - flowering plants have petals which are brightly coloured to attract pollinating
insects to the plant. Insects are also attracted by scents and nectar in the plant.
● Anthers - produces male sex cells in the form of pollen. This pollen is then either picked
up by insects or blown off the plant and carried in the wind.
● Stigmas - the female part of the plant which collects pollen from insects or from the air.
In wind-pollinated plants, the stigmas and anthers hang out of the plant where they are
more exposed to the wind.
● Ovaries - produces the female sex cells which are contained in the ovules. Fertilisation
occurs when the nucleus of this fuses with a pollen cell nucleus.
Sexual reproduction in plants takes place in the flowers using pollen. Cross-pollination occurs
when grains of pollen are transferred from the anthers of one plant to the stigma of another
plant of the same species. Some flowers can produce male and female gametes, and thus can
self-pollinate by transferring pollen from their anther to their stigma. This is considered as
sexual reproduction as there is still a male and female gamete.
Cross-pollination vs self-pollination:
● Cross-pollination results in more genetic diversity in a species, thus the species can
adapt and is more resilient to diseases.
● Self-pollination uses less energy as the plant does not need to expend energy in
attracting pollinating insects.
● Self-pollinating plants can spread to areas where the species does not currently existas other
pollinators are not required. Cross-pollinating plants, however, are reliant on pollinators.
● Cross-pollination can only occur when the flowers are open.
Methods of pollination:
There are two methods of pollination in plants: insect pollination and wind pollination. In
insect pollination, insects are attracted to the plant, where pollen sticks to them. They then
move to another plant and drop the pollen, causing the second plant to be pollinated. In wind
pollination, the wind blows pollen off the first plant and carries it to the second plant. Pollen
that is carried by insects is adapted to be sticky and have hooks which attach to the insect.
Pollen carried by the wind does not need to stick to anything, thus is smooth. It is also very
