Life Cycle of a flowering plant

A Flowering Pollination occurs

plant is there

Fertilization
occurs

Seeds are being

produced

Again, those
plants grow into
mature plants

Seeds are being

dispersed

New plants occur by

the germination of
seeds

Seeds are being

germinated

First, we have to know the above cycle, to study about the sexual reproduction of plants

1. Flower

The structure that bears sexual parts of the plant is the flower
 Parts of a flower
➢ There are 4 main parts
o Calyx
o Corolla
o Androecium/ Stamen
o Gynoecium/ Pistil

➢ Calyx
➢ Several sepals together known as the calyx
➢ This is the outermost part of the flower
➢ Located on the receptacle at the tip of the flower stalk/ pedicel
➢ Green in colour
➢ Function : protects the flower parts, when the flower is in the bud stage.

➢ Corolla
➢ Several petals together known as the Corolla
➢ Located inner to the calyx
➢ White or colourful
 ➢ Function : protects the inner flower parts in the bud stage and attracts insects for the
pollination

➢ Androecium/ Stamen
➢ Male reproductive part of the flower
➢ Two main parts are there- Anther & Filament
➢ There are pollen sacs in the anther, which contain pollen
grains/ pollen (male gametes)
➢ Matured anther bursts and those pollen grains are being
released

➢ Gynoecium/ Pistil
➢ Female reproductive structure of the flower
➢ Three main parts are there- Stigma, Style & Ovary
➢ Ovules (female gametes) are located in the ovary

We can categorize flowers into 2, based on the way of presence of male and female parts in
them.
Bisexual Flowers
Flowers that consist of both male and female
parts
Eg:- Shoe flower, Passion fruit, Chilli,
Kathurumurunga Staminate flowers
Flowers contains only stamen/ androecium
Eg:- Pumpkin(sterile), Corn (apical)
Unisexual Flowers
Flowers that consist of either male or
female part only Pistilate flowers
contains only pistil/ gynoecium
Eg:- Fruit bearing flowerd of
Pumpkin & Corn
 The plants which bear bisexual flowers are known as, Hermaphroditic plants
Eg: - Hibiscus/ shoe flower plant, roses, tomatoes
The plants which bear both staminate and Pistilate flowers in them are known as, Monoecious
plants
Eg: - Pumpkin, Corn, Coconut, Bitter guard
The plants which bear only one type of flowers, either Staminate or Pistilate flowers are known
as, Dioecious plants
Eg: - Papaw, Vallisneria

2. Pollination

The process of depositing matured pollen of a

flower on the stigma of the flower of the same
species is known as, Pollination
This occurs in 2 ways
o Self- pollination - The
process of depositing matured pollen of a flower on the stigma of the same flower

o Cross- pollination - The process of depositing matured pollen of a flower on the

stigma of another flower of the same plant or a flower of another plant of the same
species
Cross- pollination can produce new strong plants with new characteristics. Therefore, some
plants show adaptations to avoid self-pollination and to promote cross- pollination
Adaptations of the plants to avoid self-pollination and to promote cross- pollination
1. Having unisexual flowers

Bearing of Pistilate flowers and staminate flowers separately

Eg: - Coconut, Corn

2. Self-sterility

Fruits are not developed when pollen of a flower is deposited on the stigma of
the same flower
Eg: - passion fruit

3. Hercogamy
The positioning of stamens and stigma of a flower at a distance
Eg: - Orchid, Catharanthus

4. Having extrose stamens

Stigma is positioned straight while stamens are bent aside or the stamens are
positioned straight while the stigma is bent aside
Eg: - Jasmine
 5. Dichogamy
Stamens are matured earlier than the pistil (proterandry) or pistil is matured
earlier than the stamens (protogyny)
Eg: - Corn, Tridax
Agents of pollination
o Factors that contribute pollination of flowers are known as agents of pollination.
o There are 3 main agents of pollination
1. Animals
2. Wind
3. Water