Where are Seeds Made in a Flower?

Pansy blossoms form a visible seed pod on top of the calyx.

Bees, insects, birds and the wind assist in the pollination process of a flowering plant. Once the flower has been pollinated, seeds form and mature inside of the blossom ovary.

Identification

The reproductive parts of the flower's anatomy consist of the male and female organs.The female reproductive organ is the pistil, and the male portion is the stamen.

Pistil and Stamen

The flower pistil has three significant parts. The stigma is at the top of the pistil. The style is the tube from the stigma to the ovary, which is nestled within the recesses of the blossom where the petals emerge from the stem. The male stamen is a long tube called a filament. It is topped with an anther, which produces pollen, or male reproductive cells.

Seed Production

The pollen is lifted from the anther and distributed to the stigma. It travels down through the style and enters the ovary. The male cells fertilize the ovules, or eggs, inside the ovary, which has the appearance of a small bulbous growth under the blossom. Each ovule develops into a healthy seed. The petals wilt and fall away from the stem, leaving a ripening seed pod.

References

• Oregon State University: Flower Botany
• JB World Science: Flower Tutorial
• The Seed Site: Harvesting Seeds

Resources

• Enchanted Learning: Flower Anatomy