ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-21

NOTES

CH: 2 Reproduction in flowering plants

GRADE: 8 SUBJECT: BIOLOGY

Reproduction in flowering plants

• In flowering plants reproduction is performed by means of flower. The flower is usually the most
conspicuous part of a plant

First whorl – sepals are the outermost (outer covering) parts of the flower forming a whorl of
tiny green leaf- like structures. In the bud condition, they enclose the inner parts of the flower

• Green sepals collectively form a ring called calyx

Second whorl - petals form the second inner whorl arranged next to sepals

• Petals are usually white or large bright coloured and make the flower attractive

• Petals produce scent that attracts insects to pollinate their flowers

• Petals are collectively forming a ring called corolla. Corolla form a circle or a tube

Third whorl- (Male parts) the next third whorl, inner to the petals, consists of delicate, filament
like structure called stamens

• Each stamen is formed of a long narrow thread like filament and broad lobed sac like anther
(pollen producing organ) is found at its tip. These stamens collectively named androecium

Fourth whorl- (female parts) carpels are fourth innermost part of the flower (these may also be
called pistils)

• The carpel consists of a swollen ovary at the base containing one or more ovules, a narrow
slender tube called the style in the middle and a terminal expanded surface called stigma at the
top to receive the pollen

• Several fused carpels collectively called gynoecium

There are two types of flowers

• 1. Insect pollinated flower

• 2. Wind pollinated flowers

 The pollen:

• The stamens of a flower are the male organs.

• The anthers of the stamens produce fine powdery material called pollen which consists of
particles called pollen grains. It is often yellow

• The male gametes (male sex cells) are inside the pollen grains which are made in the anther

• The mature pollen grain is a cell with double wall- the outer exine and the inner intine

• Its nucleus is already divided in to a tube nucleus and a generative (male) nucleus

The ovule:

• Female gametes (egg cell) are inside the ovule, in the ovary.

• Ovule is destined to become seed and the ovary to become fruit

• Each ovule has one or two protective coverings called integuments.

• These integuments leave a small opening the micropyle at one end (for entry of pollen tube)
 Pollination:

• The transfer of pollen grains from the male part of the plant (anther of stamen) to the female
part of the plant (stigma)

• Most plants produce flowers that have both male and female reproductive parts (stamens and
carpels) is called the bisexual or hermaphrodite flower

Kinds of pollination:

Self-pollination:

• The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same flower, or a
different flower on the same plant

Advantage: There is no wastage of pollen grains

Disadvantage:

• It does not yield new varieties.

• Continued self-pollination, generation after generation, may leads to weakening of the variety
of the plant species.

Cross pollination:

• The transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower to the stigma of a flower on a different
plant of the same species

• If the pollen lands on the stigma of a different species of plant, the pollen grain usually dies

Advantage: the offspring are healthier and new varieties may be produced

Disadvantage: during pollination there will be a lot of wastage of pollen

 After the fertilization: Ovule becomes seed and Ovary becomes fruit

Seed dispersal:

• The process by which seeds are carried away from the parent plant is called dispersal of seeds

• It is very important that the seeds are thrown far away from the parent plant

• If they fall under the same plant all seedling will grow close together and will compete with one
another for food, water, space and sunlight