Pollination of Flowers

Pollination

-By Jay Glaus

The Structure Of A Flower

The flower’s main purpose on a plant is for reproduction.

The Parts Of A Flower… Pedicel

Pedicel – The Stalk Supporting The Flower.(a.k.a. Stem)

The Parts Of A Flower… Receptacle

Receptacle – The Part Of The Flower To Which The Others Are Attached

The Parts Of A Flower… Sepal

Sepal – Each Parts Of The Calyx Of The Flower

The Parts Of A Flower… Petal

Petal – Each Parts Of The Corolla Of A Flower.

The Parts Of A Flower… Filament

Filament – Male Reproductive Organ Of A Flower.

The Parts Of A Flower… Anther

Anther – Part Of The Stamen That Produces The Pollen.

The Parts Of A Flower… Stigma

Stigma – Part Of The Pistil That Receives The Pollen.

The Parts Of A Flower… Style

Style – Central Part Of The Pistil.

The Parts Of A Flower… Ovary

Ovary – Lower Part Of The Pistil Which Produces Eggs.

The Parts Of A Flower… Pistil

Pistil – The Set Of Female Parts Of A Flower.( Stigma, Style, Ovary )

Pollination (Typical Method)

A bee is attracted to a flower from color, aroma, or sweet nectars. As the bee sucks up the nectar, pollen from the anther(s) gets stuck on to the bee’s body/fur.

Pollination (Typical Method)

Pollen from the Anthers gets stuck to the Bee’s body

Pollination (Typical Method) When the bee moves on to

the next flower, some pollen that was stuck to the bee from previous flowers falls off and onto the stigma of the new flower.

Basic Flower

Pollination (Typical Method)

The Bee leaves to go to other flowers. In the meantime, the pollen left on the stigma produces a tunnel down to the ovule to pollinate it.

Pollination (Typical Method)

The flower withers or wilts. Ovules grow and grow and produce seeds. The ovary fattens to become a fruit.

Other Methods of PollinationProcess is still the same, but pollen has different carriers.

Although Bees are the main insect

carrier, pollen can stick to other insects

as well including: Butterflies, Ants,

some Beetles, and even Birds

When wind blows, pollen is picked up with the wind and can be carried to

other flowers. Pines produce

great amounts of pollen and often use this method.

Self pollination occurs when pollen falls onto

its own stigma.

Other Methods Of Pollination

Water Pollination

Occurs mainly with plants growing on water. Pollen uses water as medium for transportation.

Pollination By Q~Tip

Indoor plants, where there are no insects may use Q~Tips to pollinate the flowers. The cotton from the Q~Tip carries the pollen like a bee’s fur. Some people use dead bees on a toothpick or stick.

(cotton swabs)

Cross - PollinationCross Pollination occurs when pollen from one kind of flower is deposited onto a different kind of flower. The genes from the two

flowers can blend, and the flower resulting from the seed produced can be a mix. Cross Pollination

can also be used with fruits to mix flavors.

Grape Farmers keep their grape bushes a certain distance away

from each other to keep from cross pollinating.

Cross Pollinated Fruit

Pluots… Half Plum, Half Apricot

Developed In Late 20th Century by Floyd Zaiger in the

USA.

Want To Try Cross Pollinating? Here’s How…

Would you like to try to grow a new kind of fruit? Here’s how using cross pollination. If you take an apple tree and a plum tree, for example. When they flower, with a cotton swab, pollinate some flowers on the apple

tree, then using the same cotton swab, pollinate the plum tree. When the flower turns into the fruit on either tree, plant it.

The resulting fruit will grow on the tree that grows from your planted fruit.

So, what happens if flowers aren’t pollinated?

Some flowers do not get pollinated, since there are so many. They simply wilt and fall off of the plant. It does not harm the plant any, just no seeds are produced. As you may know, we are undergoing a small shortage of bees at the moment. Cotton Swab pollination may become more widely used in farms as well if the shortage continues.

Pollination Animation

Excellent animation of the basics of pollination.

http://www.botanical-online.com/animation1.htm

Some People Are Allergic To Pollen Spores

That’s All! I Hope You Enjoyed It!