How Flowers Make Seeds

Science · Organisms & Life Processes · ages 12-13

Name ______________________ Date ____________

Which part of the flower protects the bud before it opens?
- Petal
- Sepal
- Carpel
Which part of the flower makes pollen?
- Anther
- Stigma
- Sepal
The carpel is the male part of a flower.
Circle one: True False
Why do insect-pollinated flowers usually make nectar?
- To reward insects so they keep visiting and carrying pollen
- To feed their own roots
- To attract the wind
A flower has small, dull petals, no scent, and a feathery stigma hanging outside it to catch pollen from the air. What kind of pollination does it use?
- Insect pollination
- Self pollination only
- Wind pollination
Look at the highlighted step in the sequence. What happens right after fertilisation?
- Pollen lands on the stigma
- The ovule becomes a seed
- A pollen tube grows
A seedling grows in the shade under its parent tree and struggles for light. Which method of seed dispersal would have best prevented this?
- A hooked seed that catches on animal fur and drops off far away
- A seed that simply falls straight down under the parent plant
- A heavy seed with no special features
Priya says, "Pollination and fertilisation are the same thing, since pollen just needs to land on the flower." What is wrong with her idea?
- Nothing, she's right
- Fertilisation happens before pollination
- Pollination is pollen landing on the stigma; fertilisation happens later, when a sperm nucleus joins the egg cell inside the ovule

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Sepal · Sepals are the tough, leaf-like parts that wrap around the bud.
Anther · The anther sits on top of the stamen's filament and produces pollen.
False · The carpel is the female part. It holds the stigma, style, ovary, and ovules.
To reward insects so they keep visiting and carrying pollen · Insects visit flowers for the sugary nectar and pick up pollen on their bodies while they feed.
Wind pollination · No colour or scent is needed since wind carries the pollen, not insects.
The ovule becomes a seed · After fertilisation, the ovule develops into a seed and the ovary develops into the fruit around it.
A hooked seed that catches on animal fur and drops off far away · Hooked seeds hitch a ride on animals and get carried away from the parent plant, giving the seedling its own light, water, and space.
Pollination is pollen landing on the stigma; fertilisation happens later, when a sperm nucleus joins the egg cell inside the ovule · Pollination just moves pollen to the stigma. Fertilisation is a separate, later step deep inside the ovule.