Flowering plants
Life cycle of a flowering plant
Flowering plants follow a specific life cycle.
Seed - They begin life as seeds. Seeds are like baby plants. They have a hard outer covering that protects the interior of the seed embryo.
Germination - The seed ends up in the soil. It needs air, water and soil to grow. When a seed begins to grow, this is called germination. The first growth is usually a few small roots. Then the stems will grow.
Sprout or Seedling – When the first sign of life appears above ground, this is called a sprout or seedling.
Mature Plant – The seedling will continue to grow into a fully mature plant with leaves, roots, and stems.
Flowering: The mature plant will produce flowers. Through pollination, the flowers will produce seeds. When the seeds end up in the soil, the cycle will start again.
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Flower
Flowers are the reproductive organs of the flowering plant.
The main structures of a flower include:
Sepal - The sepal is a support structure for the petal. It is usually green and helps protect and support the petal. All the sepals together are called calyx.
Petal: The petals are the brightly colored leaves of the flower. The petals are often bright and colorful to attract insects that help with pollination. All the petals together are called a corolla.
Stamen - The stamen is the part of the flower that produces pollen. There are two main parts of the stamen: the filament and the anther.
Filament - The filament is the stalk that supports the anther.
Anther: The anther is made up of lobes that are attached to the filament. These lobes hold sacs that contain pollen.
Pistil - The pistil is the female part of the flower. Contains the carpel and stigma.
Stigma - The stigma is the area where the pollen is received. The stigma may be located at the end of a stem called the style.
Carpel - The carpel is the ovary of the flower and contains ovules that are potential seeds.
Fruit
Fruits are a way that many plants spread their seeds. The fruits are formed after the flower is fertilized with pollen. The ovules of the pistil will turn into seeds and the flower will turn into a fruit.
Seed
The seed is the embryo of a plant. Sort of like a baby plant. Seeds come in all sizes, shapes, and colors depending on the type of plant. Inside the seed is a plant embryo, food for the embryo, and a seed coat to protect it.
Seeds can be dispersed in a number of ways, including air, water, and animals. Some seeds are light and have hairs or wings that help them float in the air. Other seeds can float on water and be dispersed in rivers and streams. Still other seeds bear tasty fruits that animals eat and then disperse in animal droppings.
Pollination
For an ovary to become a seed, it must receive pollen. Insects and birds can play an important role in pollinating plants. When an insect or bird is attracted to a flower because of its bright color, pollen falls on them. As they move from one plant to another, they move pollen from one plant to another. This helps plants reproduce by creating seeds.
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