Pollination

What is Pollination? Pollination: the transfer of pollen from the anther of one flower to the stigma of another flower. Fertilization: occurs when the male pollen unites with a female egg.

Why is Pollination important? Pollination is how plants reproduce and continue to exist. At least 80% of our world's crop plant species require pollination.

Purpose of the flower To attract pollinators with colorful petals, scent, nectar and pollen Remember – plants are rooted in place. They cannot move.

Pollen Yellow powder. Fertilizes the eggs. Insect-pollinated plants have sticky barbed pollen grains Wind-pollinated plants are lightweight, small and smooth (corn pollen)

Pollinators Pollinators Wind Bees Butterflies & moths Flies, beetles & insects Birds Bats Some flowers open at special times to attract pollinators such as night blooming plants that are pollinated by bats.

Wind About 12% of the world’s flowering plants are wind-pollinated grasses cereal crops many trees ragweed Small flowers with no bright colors, special odors, or nectar; Most have no petals Release great amounts of pollen so that some pollen reaches stigma of other plants.

Bees Bees see yellow and blue colors, also ultraviolet light (not red – it appears dull to them) Prefer cup shaped flowers that have landing pads.

Butterflies and moths Butterflies can see bright colors like red, orange, and purple Flowers are usually shaped as a long tube because of insect’s proboscis – to get nectar Moths have a good sense of smell & pollinate at night. Flowers are usually white or pale and dull (red, purple, or pink) with sweet, strong odor.

Flies , beetles & insects Flies like rotten smells and pale to dark colors (dull brown or purple) Beetles have good vision and a good sense of smell. Beetles pollinate flowers that are dull in color (dull white or green), but have very strong odor

Birds Birds have a good sense of color, they like yellow or red flowers. Birds do not have a good sense of smell, so bird-pollinated flowers usually have little odor. Hummingbirds use their long beak.

Bats Bats are mammals Bats pollinate at night, so flowers are open at night, white, and larger in size. Bats prefer a strong, musty odor. Flowers are bowl shaped.

Bee Facts Bees are responsible for 80% of all the pollination in the world. Honey bees have FIVE eyes! Honey bees use the sun as a reference point   Tiny bits of pollen stick to the bee’s legs.  They drink nectar from the flowers They make honey from the nectar.  Bees help flowers make seed by putting pollen from one flower on the next.  

How Pollination Happens The bee goes to a flower in search of nectar to eat. While the bee is there, the bee rubs against the anther and some pollen gets on his bee fur. The bees goes to another flower for some more nectar. While on that flower, some of the pollen sticks to the sticky stigma. The pollen travels down the style into the ovary. The pollen fertilizes the eggs in the ovary to form seeds.