Pollination

What is pollination ? Pollination is the means by which plants are fertilized and cause fruit to grow. Pollination can occur by wind, insect, birds, reptiles, mammal, or manually.

How does it happen ? Many plants have both male (stamen) and female (stigma) parts. The stigma is usually in the center with the stamen surrounding it. These parts develop at different times to prevents self- fertilization. The stamen produce pollen in vast quantities. It can be spread by the wind and land on a stigma to be fertilized. Animals, insects, reptiles and mammals transfer pollen from plant to plant as they go around feeding.

Then what ? After the plant becomes fertilized, the ovary becomes a seed. Flowers shed their petals and the seed (embryo) starts forming and swells into a fruit.

Why is it important ? Pollination is essential to flowering plants’ reproductive cycle. Many animals also depend on flowering plants for food. If pollination did not occur, these animals would starve.