P5 Reproduction in Plants

The reproductive parts of a flowering plant are found in the flower.

A flower is made up of many different parts with different functions.

Part	Type	Function
Anther	Male	Contains pollen grains
Filament	Male	Supports the anther
Stigma	Female	Small and sticky pad where pollen grains land
Style	Female	Tube that connects the stigma to the ovary
Ovary	Female	Contains ovules; protects seeds until fruit is ripe
Ovule	Female	Contains an egg cell

A flowering plant undergoes pollination, fertilisation, dispersal and germination to reproduce.

Pollination

Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a flower.

Pollination can take place in the same flower, between flowers on the same plant or between flowers on different plants.

	Wind-Pollinated	Animal-Pollinated
Pollen grains	Light, smooth surface	Heavier, have spikes to stick onto animals
Petals	Small, dull-coloured or no petals	Large, brightly-coloured
Scent	No sweet scent	Sweet scent
Nectar	No nectar	Contains nectar

Fertilisation

After a pollen grain lands on the stigma, a pollen tube grows down towards the ovary.

The pollen tube transfers the male reproductive cell to the egg cell inside the ovule.

• After fertilisation, most flower parts except the ovary will wither and drop off.
• The ovary enlarges and develops into a fruit.
• The ovule develops into a seed.

The production of seeds involves the fusion of male and female reproductive cells — this is known as sexual reproduction.

When seeds are released, they will grow into new plants under the right conditions.

Seeds need to grow far from parent plants to prevent overcrowding and reduce competition for resources such as sunlight and water.

Method	Adaptations	Examples
Wind	Light, small; wing-like structures or feathery parachutes	Shorea, Dandelion
Water	Waterproof coverings or fibrous husks that trap air to float	Coconut, Pong pong
Animals (eating)	Colourful, fragrant, sweet, fleshy, juicy fruits	Mango, Kiwi
Animals (sticking)	Sticky or have tiny hooks to attach to fur	Mimosa, Love grass
Splitting / Explosive	Fruits split open when ripe and dried up	Balsam, African tulip

After a seed is dispersed, it starts to germinate and grow into a new plant under the right conditions.

• First, the root grows out of the seed, then the shoot appears.
• The young seedling is unable to make its own food — it obtains food from the seed leaf.
• As the seedling grows, the seed leaves decrease in mass and dry up.
• When true leaves develop, the young plant can make its own food.
• The young plant grows into an adult plant, which bears flowers — and the cycle repeats.

Non-flowering plants such as ferns do not have flowers, so they cannot bear fruits with seeds.

• They reproduce through spores, found in spore bags on the underside of leaves.
• Spores are tiny and light — mainly dispersed by wind.
• When there is sufficient air, water and warmth, the spores germinate and grow into new plants.

• Male parts: Anther (pollen) + Filament (support).
• Female parts: Stigma, Style, Ovary, Ovule.
• Pollination = transfer of pollen from anther to stigma.
• Fertilisation = fusion of male cell with egg cell in ovary.
• Ovary → Fruit; Ovule → Seed (sexual reproduction).
• Dispersal methods: Wind, water, animals (eating/sticking), splitting/explosive.
• Germination needs: Air + warmth + water. Root grows first, then shoot.
• Non-flowering plants reproduce via spores, not seeds.