Flower Anatomy

• The main parts of a flower are the stamens, pistils and petals. The stamens are comprised of the anthers and the filaments. The anthers produce pollen and the filaments hold the anthers up from the center of the flower so that they are accessible to pollinators. The pistils, sometimes called the carpal, is the pollen receptor. The pistil includes the stigma, style, ovary and ovule. The petals serve to attract the pollinators and give them a place to rest while they feed.
  
  

Flower Reproduction

• The flower produces pollen on its anthers. Pollinators transfer the pollen between flowers of the same species and, in some cases, transfer the pollen to the same flower. The stigma of the flower accepts the pollen, which then germinates. After germination, the pollen sends sperm down the style into the ovary, located in the heart of the flower. Sperm joins with the ovule in the ovary and cells multiply to produce an embryo. The seed develops around the embryo and the ovary develops into the fruit of the plant around the seeds.
  
  

Seed Purpose

• The seed carries and protects the embryonic plant contained within it. The seed is composed of a protective covering, the embryonic plant tissue, and may contain nutrients to sustain the embryo. Each seed has characteristics specific to the plant species in terms of color, size and shape. Many seeds include features designed to aid in dispersal, such as the wings of a maple seed, and the seed coat determines the dormancy of the embryo, only allowing germination under the proper conditions.
  
  

Contributing Factors

• Plants flower and produce seeds in response to environmental triggers and other external factors. The triggers for flowering include plant age, health and the exposure to light. Some plants flower in response to shorter days, while others respond to longer days. Immature plants are unable to flower and sick or weak plants will not produce flowers. Once the flowers bloom, the presence or absence of pollinators determine if fertilization will occur. If fertilization does not occur, the plant cannot produce seeds.