3.3a Insect pollination

• in the process of pollinating a flower there has to be a transfer of pollen grains from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another.

• pollen is a small structure which contains the male nuclei. 

• the transfer in a insect pollinated plant takes place by insects and so its necessary for this type of flower to attract the insect into the first flower and then have a reason to go to the second flower.

• if the pollen goes from one plant to another this is what we call cross-pollination.

• when looking at a single flower structure we find the adaptations to attract the insect                       - signals to the insect; coloured petals insects see colour                                                                       - scents to detect                                                                                                                                 - value for the insect -  food- nectaries/ fructose also will use pollen as a source of protein.

• stamen- male part of  plant- made up of anther which produces pollen grains on a stalk called the filament.
• carpel- female part- made up of stigma where pollen grains fall, and the style which connects the style to the ovary, and the ovary which produces eggs/ ovules