Pollination

POLLINATION

•    The transfer of pollen grains from an anther to a stigma is called pollination.

•    Many flowers are brightly coloured and have a sweet smell to attract insects such as bees.

•    When an insect sits on the flower, the pollen grains stick to its body and may be rubbed off when it reaches other flowers.

•    After pollination, the ovules change into seeds.

•    As seeds form, the ovary swells and changes into a fruit.

•    If the seed gets sufficient water, air, and warmth, a seed will produce a baby plant.

Pollination

Pollination occurs in several ways:

•    When animals such as bees, butterflies, moths, flies, and hummingbirds pollinate plants, it's accidental. i.e. they are not trying to pollinate the plant.

•    Usually they are at the plant to get food, and so the sticky pollen or sweet nectar made at the base of the petals.

•    When feeding, the animals accidentally rub against the stamens and get pollen stuck all over themselves.

•    When they move to another flower to feed, some of the pollen can rub off onto this new plant's stigma.

•    Plants that are pollinated by animals often are brightly coloured and have a strong smell to attract the animal pollinators.