Many kinds of plants have male and female parts. These
plants reproduce, or make seeds, sexually. In flowering plants, the male and
female parts are in the flowers. In pine trees and other conifers, the male and
female parts are in the cones. Conifers have male and female cones.
The male part of a flower is called the stamen. It gives off
a powdery substance called pollen. The female part is called the pistil. The
top of the pistil is called the stigma, and is often sticky. Seeds are made at
the base of the pistil, in the ovule through pollination. Pollination leads to
the creation of new seeds that grow into new plants. Pollination occurs when
some of the pollen gets to the pistil. A pollen grain joins with an egg. When
this happens, a seed begins to grow.
In some species, the pollen and egg can come from the same
plant. In other species, they must come from different plants. But how does
pollen move? Insects, wind, and water can all help move the pollen.
Have you seen bees or butterflies around flowers? Bees and
butterflies like to drink nectar from the flowers. As they enjoy their tasty
treat, some of the pollen sticks to their bodies. They carry it with them to
other flowers, leading to pollination.
(Encarta Encyclopedia and Internet
sources)
