10SCI - SLO#3 - Describe Pollination and fertilisation

Pollination is the transferring of pollen from one plant to another. The purpose of this is so that flowers can have their eggs fertilized and then turned into seeds that can be dispersed so that the species can live on through the next generation. There are 4 agents that help with the process of pollination. They are animals eg bees, wind, water and themselves (self-pollination when pollen falls from their own anther and on to their stigma).

Fertilization is known as the process in which the sperm meets the egg. Pollen is a carrier of sperm. So, when the pollen falls off of the animals or through one of the 4 agents, it sticks onto the stigma, the pollen grows down the style to the ovary. The sperm meets the eggs (ovules) and thus fertilization has occurred. Once an egg is fertilized, it grows into a seed while the ovary swells up around the seeds, and into a fruit which can then disperse its seeds so that germination can occur. Eg actual fruit, sycamore seeds etc...