Structure of the Flower

• Asexual reproduction: involves one parent.
• Sexual reproduction: the fusion of two gametes. Two parents are involved in this process.
• Gametes: haploid cells that are able to fuse together.
• Flowers are the reproductive organs of flowering plants.

Sepals	Protects the flower when it is a bud.
Petals	Attracts animals to the flower for pollination• large, brightly coloured and scented to attract insects in animal-pollinated plants. Small, green or absent in wind-pollinated plants.
Stamen (male)	The male part of the flower consisting of the anther and filament.
Anther	Produces pollen grains.
Filament	Supports the anther.
Carpel (female)	The female part of the flower, consisting of the stigma, the style and the ovary.
Stigma	Where pollen lands.
Style	A tube through which the pollen tube grows.
Receptacle	Supports the flower and forms its base.
Ovary	Contains one or more ovules.
Nectary	Produces sugary substance called nectar. Attracts insects for pollination.

Introduction to Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

1. Definition:

• Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of a male gamete and a female gamete to form a zygote, which develops into a seed.

2. Purpose of Sexual Reproduction:

• Promotes genetic variation, which is beneficial for survival and adaptation to environmental changes.

3. Structure of the Flower:

• Flowers are the reproductive organs of flowering plants.
• Male and female structures are required for reproduction:
• Stamen: Male part of the flower, which produces pollen grains (male gametes).
• Carpel: Female part of the flower, which produces ovules (female gametes).

4. Pollination:

• The process of transferring pollen from the anther (male part) to the stigma (female part) of the same or a different flower.