Download The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants

Everything you need to know
about flowers!
Ann Morris, Science Advisory Teacher, PPEC, 29.4.02
The Life Cycle of Flowering Plants
• The life cycle
shows the main
stages in the life
of a flower, from
seed to flower and
to seed again.
• This is the process
of
reproduction.
Why are some flowers so
colourful?
• Many flowers have
brightly coloured
petals and an
attractive scent.
• This is so that
they attract bees
and other insects.
What does a flower do?
• The main
function of a
flower is to
reproduce and
make new seeds
so that new
plants will grow
each year.
If you look carefully at a flower,
you will see that it is made up of
many different parts.
• Each part has
an important
job to do.
Sepals
sepal
• The sepals protect
the flower before
it opens.
Petals
• The petals
attract
pollinating
insects with
their bright
colour and
attractive
scent.
Stamens
stamens are
the male part of
the flower.
• The plant makes
pollen in the top
part of the
stamen, called
the anther.
• The
stigma
The Stigma
• The stigma is the
top of the female
part of the flower.
• The pollen from
another flower
collects on the
stigma’s sticky
surface.
The Ovary
• The ovary protects
the ovules.
• Pollen travels to
the ovules and
fertilization takes
place.
• Now the ovules will
develop into seeds.
Write the correct words in the boxes:
stamens, stigma, petals, ovary, sepals
pollen
sticks to
this
where the
seeds grow
these attract
insects
where the
pollen is
made
These protect
the flower
before it opens
Pollination
• Insects visit
flowers to search
for nectar –
their food.
• But the flowers use
the insects for
their own purposes!
• As the insect probes
for nectar, its body
rubs against the
stamens.
• Pollen gets stuck on
the insect’s legs.
• You can often see bees
with a heavy load of
yellow pollen on their
hind legs.
Pollination
When the insect
visits another
flower of the same
type, the pollen will
stick to the stigma.
This is called
pollination.
Fertilization
The pollen travels
to the ovary, where
it joins with an
ovule.
This is called
fertilization.
Seeds
• The seeds develop
inside the ovary,
which grows to
become the seed
pod or fruit.
Seed Dispersal
• The seeds are
dispersed; some by
animals, some by
the wind, some by
explosion and some
by water.
Germination
• If the seed lands in
a suitable place, it
will germinate, and
grow into a new
plant.
• Then the cycle
starts all over
again.
Write these words in the boxes: germination,
fertilization, pollination,
seed dispersal,
parent plant, plant growth
Write the correct words in the boxes:
stamen, stigma, petals, ovary, ovules, pollen,
sepals, anther. This is the female
The male part
of the flower
These
attract
insects
This is where
pollen is made
These protect
the flower
before it
opens
part of the flower,
which receives the
pollen
Insects carry
this from flower
to flower
These become
seeds after
fertilization
This is where the
seeds will grow