Flower Dissection Summary

Here is a picture of an Alstromeria flower before it blooms. Notice how the bud is protected by the sepals on the outside. The sepals on this flower are mostly green with a little hint of purple. The green will fade as the flower gets ready to bloom and open up.

Steps 1-3 Sepals-protect the bud photosynthesizes for developing bud

Petals-attract pollinators

Step 4-6Stamen

PistilStamen

Pistil

Step 7-9

Stamen-male part of the flower, is made up of:Anther-produces pollenFilament-holds anther up

Filament

Anther

Step 10-11Pistil-female part of the flower, is made up of:Stigma-sticky, pollen gets stuck to itStyle-holds stigma up, wherepollen tube is producedOvary-contains the eggs

Stigma

Style

Ovary

Stigma

Step 12

Pollen magnified 100x

Step 13-14

The ovary is thick to cut through to protect the eggs. There are so many eggs so the plant can produce many seeds.

Eggs

This is a picture of an Alstromeria flower that has been allowed to bloom for a week. Notice the three “fingers” of the stigma. They have opened up and they appear to have a drop of water at the tip. It is very sticky so it can trap pollen.

This is the same Alstromeria flower several weeks later. Notice all the petals, sepals, stamen and pistil have fallen off. The ovary has gotten larger and the fertilized eggs inside are starting to turn into seeds.

Review Questions

1. Why do you think certain parts of the flower are shaped the way they are?

Answer-

The parts of the flower are shaped the way they are so they can do a specific job.

Form allows for function

2. How does it benefit the plant to have both male and female parts located in the flower?

Answer-

By having both male and female parts in one flower, the flower can perform self pollination and does not rely on a pollinator.

3. Name at least 2 ways that a plant can be pollinated. (Think about how the pollen is going to get onto the stigma-who or what will put it there?)

Answer-

Pollination can either be self or cross. If cross pollination the pollen can be carried by pollinators such as insects and birds and wind.