Flowers, Seeds and Fruit
In this article the process of pollination will be explained.
Spring is a time of rebirth. After a long winter everyone is ready to get outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Many of us enjoy gardening and who does not enjoy the spring flowers? Flowers play a intricate roll in the production of new plants and fruit. Read on to discover the world of plant reproduction.
Flowers bear seeds and these seeds are tiny plants waiting to sprout. Some flowers are big and bold, colorful and dramatic. Other flowers, such as the flowers on grass or some trees largely go unnoticed. Take a walk outside and try to spot as many flowers as possible.
Just as animals and people need a Mom and Dad, so do plants. Flowers contain both male and female parts. The male part is called the STAMEN and the female part is called the PISTIL. The stamens surround the pistil on the flower and produces a powdery substance called pollen.
Many folks are allergic to pollen. Some are allergic to only certain types of pollen.
The pollen from the stamen must reach the pistil to produce seeds. The pollen reaches the pistil one of two ways. Wind can blow the pollen onto the pistil. Insects, like the honey bee can also transport pollen on their bodies (legs) from the stamen to the pistil of the same flower or to other flowers. Some scientists believe that there would be no plants if it were not for bees and other insects.
Once a pistil has received pollen from a stamen, seed production can begin. The pistil will begin to swell. When the seeds are fully formed, the pistil will either be large, dry and hard or it will be a fruit. Not all fruits are edible.
Examples of fruits would be: Apples, Pears and Peaches. Examples of dry seed pods would be: Peas, beans or nuts.
Seeds contain a hard outer shell. This shell protects a seed. Sometimes a seed will need to be lightly brushed across fine sandpaper before planting. This is to simulate the natural occurrence of the seed tumbling across rough terrain.
Inside the seed is a baby plant and seed leaves. The seed leaves are food for the baby plant. A seed needs warmth, water and sun to begin to grow. Some seeds need a period of cold prior to planting. Sometimes in late fall, tulip bulbs can be purchased at a great discount once the ground freezes. Basically it is too late to plant them at that point, but you can still purchase the bulbs and store them in your refrigerator until the ground thaws in the spring.
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