PLANT REPRODUCTION

Living things reproduce to ensure continuity of their own kind.

The male parts of a flower are made up of two parts – the anther and the filament.

The female parts of a flower are made up of three parts – the stigma, style and ovary.

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower is called pollination.

Insects, birds or wind help to carry pollen to the stigma of a flower.

Fertilisation takes place when the male reproductive cell in the pollen grain fuses with the egg cell inside the ovule.

The ovules in the ovary start developing into seeds.

The ovary enlarges and becomes a fruit. 

The scattering of seeds reduces competition between the parent plant(s) and the young plant, and prevents overcrowding.

Plants rely on animals, wind and water to help scatter their seeds. Some plants can disperse seeds by themselves through explosive action.

A seed requires air, water and the right temperature to germinate.

First, the root of the baby plant grows out of the seed. The shoot appears next. The young plant can then make its own food when it develops leaves.

Non-flowering plants, such as ferns, do not produce seeds. They produce spores, which can grow into new plants. 

Spores are dispersed mainly by wind.

Characteristics of plants are passed on to their young when they reproduce.