Flowering Plant Biology
Angiosperms are flowering plants. The purpose of flowers is sexual reproduction. Some flowers are perfect and contain both male and female parts. Other flowers are imperfect; they contain either male or female structures. Does this Spark an idea?
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Male Part of the Flower
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The male part of the flower is called the stamen. It consists of the anthers, small sacs that carry pollen, and the filaments, stalks that hold up the anthers.
Female Part of the Flower
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The pistil is the female part of the flower. It is often shaped like a bowling pin and is located in the center of the flower. It has three parts: The sticky surface at the top is the stigma, and the center tube is the style. The style is connected to the ovary, the structure containing the ovules.
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Fertilization
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The male sex cells, the pollen, are released from the anthers. The pollen sticks to the stigma, travels down the style and fertilizes the eggs in the ovules. The fertilized eggs develop into the seed. A pumpkin, for example, is an ovary that contains many seeds.
Petals
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The often brightly colored and scented portions of the flowers are the petals. The petals attract bees and other pollinators. The sepals are the green petal-like structures that protect the developing bud. The group of sepals is called the calyx.
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References
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