Reproductive Structure of a Flower
Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants, and they contain both male and female reproductive structures. Male reproductive part is known as Androecium and female reproductive part is known as Gynoceium.
Androecium
It forms the male reproductive part of the flower and consists of all the stamen present in the flower. Stamen produces pollen grain that is yellowish dust like powder. Pollen contains the male gametes (sperm cells), essential for fertilizing the female reproductive organs and enabling sexual reproduction. Stamen is divided into two parts i.e anther and filament.
Anther: It forms the top most part of the stamen and produces and releases the pollen. Pollen grains consists of the male gametes, that fertilizes the female reproductive organs of the flower.
Filament: It is a thin, stalk-like structure that carries the anther. It keeps the anther it in place for maximum exposure to the pollinators.
Microsporangia are small structures present within the anthers of a flower. It undergoes meiosis and produces microspores. The microspore develops into pollen grains, that contain the male germ cells or male gametes necessary for fertilization in flowering plants.
Gynoecium
It forms the female reproductive part Carpel. It is present at the centre of the flower and is divided into three parts as follows:
Ovary: Ovary forms the bottom swollen part of the carpel. It contains ovule and each ovule has an egg cell.
Style: Style forms the middle elongated part of the carpel. It connects the stigma and the ovary, allowing pollen tubes to reach the ovules for fertilization.
Stigma: Stigma forms the terminal part of the carpel. It is the sticky in nature and captures pollen for fertilization.
Megasporangia are specialized structures present within the ovules of a flower. They undergoes meiosis and produce megaspores, which later develops into the female gametophytes. It contains the egg cells necessary for fertilization in flowering plants.
Fertilization in plants is a process in which the male gamete (germ cell) fuses with the female gametes( egg cells) within the ovule, forming a zygote. The zygote develops into embryo within the seed, that give rise to a new plant. The process of fertilization is aided by pollination. Pollination is the transfer of pollen from a flower’s male reproductive part (anther) to its female reproductive part (stigma), enabling fertilization and seed formation. It is of two types:
- Self pollination: When the transfer of pollen occurs in the same flower.
- Cross pollination: When the pollen is transferred from one flower to another.
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants – Class 10 Notes
Sexual reproduction in plants involves the transfer of pollen, containing male gametes, to the stigma of the flower. This leads to fertilization within the ovary, forming seeds. Ovary may develop into fruit for seed protection and dispersal. Seeds spread through wind, water, or animals, and under favorable conditions, germinate to give rise to new plants, completing the reproductive cycle.
Table of Content
- Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
- Structure of Flower
- Reproductive Structure of a Flower
- Process of Fertilization in Flowering Plants
- Examples of Sexual Reproduction
- Characteristics of Sexual Reproduction
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