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All about pollen A pollen grain Stigma Pollen in close-up
lands on the
stigma and Pollen grains are so small
that about 50 of them can
grows a tube
Every living thing on Earth is made up of tiny parts, to the ovary. fit on a pinhead. Every plant
called cells. A plant cannot grow until two kinds of has its own type of pollen.
Some are round, while others
cell join together. One kind of cell is called an ovule. are shaped like triangles
Ovules are formed in the base of the flower, inside a or sausages.
chamber called an ovary. The other kind of cell is called A seed is
formed here,
a pollen grain. Pollen grains are tiny. They have to join in the ovary. Magnified pollen
grain of a hollyhock
up with the ovules from another flower, so they have Pollen at the ready
to move from one flower to another. This lily bud has been
cut in half to reveal its
Stamen Coming and going stamens and stigma. At
This lily flower makes ovules as well the end of each stamen
as pollen grains. However, it will only is a dark orange anther.
form seeds if it receives pollen that This makes the pollen, Spikes Hollyhock
has traveled from another lily flower. which is like a fine dust. plant
Anther
The stigma is a
landing platform
that receives pollen
from other flowers.
Sticky business
A single anther Pollen grains are often sticky. When
The pollen grains are makes millions a bee visits a flower, it cannot keep
made at the end of of pollen grains. from brushing against the anthers
the stamens in anthers. and getting covered in pollen.
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