FLOWERING AND NON-FLOWERING PLANTS - UNIT REVIEW
NAME: ________________________________________ DATE: ____________________
Pollination
Pollination is the movement of pollen from the stamen of a flower to the stigma of the same kind of
flower. There are two main ways that pollen is moved like this:
- by insects or by wind.
Pollination by insects
Have you noticed bees, butterflies and other insects on flowers? These insects are called pollinators.
Certain insects are attracted to certain types of flowers.
For example, butterflies like to visit flowers that are big and have lots of nectar, a sweet liquid. When
the insects fly into the flower to feed on nectar inside the flower, they brush against the anthers. Pollen
grains from the anthers stick to the insect’s body. The insect carries the pollen to the stigma of the
same flower or another flower.
Flowers pollinated by insects are adapted to attract pollinators in the following ways:
• They are white or have brightly coloured petals.
• They have a scent.
• They produce nectar.
• They have marks on the petals to guide the insect to the nectar inside the flower.
Pollination by wind
In wind pollination, the pollen blows in the wind from the anthers to the stigmas of other flowers. Grass,
rice and corn flowers are wind pollinated.
Flowers pollinated by wind have these adaptations:
• The petals are small and not brightly coloured.
• They do not have a scent or nectar.
• They make lots of smooth, light pollen grains that blow away easily.
Why must flowers be pollinated?
Plants reproduce by making seeds. The pollen and eggs join to make seeds in a process called
fertilisation.
Pollination brings pollen from the male anther to the female stigma.
This allows the eggs to be fertilised and seeds to form. Fertilisation happens in the flower’s ovary.
Fertilisation only happens if the pollen and the eggs are from the same kind of flower. After the egg is
fertilised, the petals and stamens of the flower die. The ovary grows and becomes the fruit. Seeds form
inside the fruit. The fruit protects the seed and helps to spread them.
FLOWERING AND NON-FLOWERING PLANTS - UNIT REVIEW
NAME: ________________________________________ DATE: ____________________
Questions
1. Why do flowers pollinated by insects have brightly coloured, scented petals and nectar?
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2. a Why do flowers pollinated by wind have little colour, no petals or scent?
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b Why do flowers pollinated by wind produce lots of dry pollen?
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3. How does pollination help the plant reproduce?
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4. Explain how pollination is different to fertilisation.
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5. a Which part of the flower forms the fruit?
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b What are the functions of the fruit?
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