{"id":11445,"date":"2017-09-01T10:00:06","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/?p=11445"},"modified":"2025-07-10T12:42:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T12:42:32","slug":"the-life-cycle-of-flowering-plants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/au\/discover\/science\/nature\/the-life-cycle-of-flowering-plants\/","title":{"rendered":"The life cycle of flowering plants"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We all love beautiful flowers. Maybe you enjoy painting pretty pictures of flowers, or perhaps you like to give them to your mum as a special gift on her birthday?! But did you know that the life cycle of a plant plays a super important part in the <strong>plant kingdom<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>The life cycle of a plant<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11450\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-3.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-3.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-3-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The parts of the flower<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you thought that flowers were just a pretty bunch of colourful petals, then think again! Flowers are actually very complex, made up of different parts that all have important jobs to do.<\/p>\n<p>Inside, they have <strong>male and female parts<\/strong> which enable the plant to reproduce. Let\u2019s take a closer look&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11448\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-1.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"327\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-1.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-1-300x154.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Petal<\/strong>:<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>large, brightly coloured petals are used to attract insects<br \/>\n<strong>Stamen<\/strong>: the male part of the plant<br \/>\n<strong>Anther<\/strong>: produces grains of pollen<br \/>\n<strong>Filament<\/strong>: supports the anther<br \/>\n<strong>Pistil<\/strong>: the female part of the plant, sometimes called the \u2018carpel\u2019<br \/>\n<strong>Stigma<\/strong>: collects pollen grains<br \/>\n<strong>Style<\/strong>: allows pollen to pass to the ovary<br \/>\n<strong>Ovary<\/strong>: produces seeds inside tiny \u2018ovules\u2019<br \/>\n<strong>Sepal<\/strong>: found outside the petals, the sepal protects the flower when it\u2019s unopened<br \/>\n<strong>Receptacle<\/strong>: attaches the flower to the stem of the plant<br \/>\n<strong>Pedicel<\/strong>: a stalk that supports a single flower<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">What is pollination?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The first stage of reproduction in flowering plants is called &#8216;<strong>pollination<\/strong>&#8216;.<\/p>\n<p>But what is pollination? This is when the pollen produced on the the <strong>anther<\/strong> of a flower moves to the <strong>stigma<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>If pollen moves from the anther to the stigma on the same flower (or a flower on the same plant), it is called \u2018<strong>self-pollination<\/strong>\u2019. If the pollen is transferred from the anther to the stigma on another plant, it\u2019s called \u2018<strong>cross-pollination<\/strong>\u2019.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">How are flowers pollinated?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are two main ways that flowers are pollinated \u2014\u00a0by <strong>insects<\/strong> and by the <strong>wind<\/strong>. Insect pollinated flowers and wind pollinated flowers are adapted differently.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Butterfly-life-cycle-image-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-32932\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Butterfly-life-cycle-image-1.jpg\" alt=\"Butterfly life cycle top image\" width=\"635\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Butterfly-life-cycle-image-1.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Butterfly-life-cycle-image-1-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Insect-pollinated flowers<\/strong>: these flowers have <strong>brightly coloured petals<\/strong> and are scented with sweet-smelling <strong>nectar to attract insects<\/strong> looking for a snack.<\/p>\n<p>The pollen grains are sticky and spiky, so that when the insect enters the flower, they stick stick to its body.<\/p>\n<p>These flowers have sticky stigmas, too, that catch the pollen when the insect brushes past.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you know&#8230;?<br \/>\nIt\u2019s not just insects that pollinate plants \u2014\u00a0birds and bats do, too!<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong><br \/>\nWind-pollinated flowers<\/strong>: these flowers are usually a green or dull colour and have no scent, since there is no need to attract insects.<\/p>\n<p>Their <strong>anthers are located outside the flowers<\/strong> and produce large amounts of fine pollen for the wind to pick up and transfer to their feathery stigmas.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Fertilsation of flowering plants<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once the pollen grain lands on the stigma of the same species of plant, a <strong>pollen tube grows<\/strong> down from the grain, through the style and into the ovary.<\/p>\n<p>Then, male \u2018<strong>gametes<\/strong>\u2019 (reproductive cells) pass from the pollen grain along the tube to the ovary, where they join with female gametes in the &#8216;<strong>ovules<\/strong>&#8216;. This process is called \u2018<strong>fertilisation<\/strong>\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Once an ovule has been fertilised by the pollen, it develops into a seed, containing an <strong>embryo<\/strong> (a young root and shoot) and a <strong>food store<\/strong> that will allow the young plant to start to grow at a later stage of the life cycle.<\/p>\n<p>The ovary wall then develops into a <strong>fruit or a pod<\/strong> to protect the seed.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-7.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11464\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-7.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-7.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-7-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you know&#8230;?<br \/>\nThe flowers of some plants have just one ovule in their ovary, and so grow fruit with just one seed inside, such as a peach. Others have ovaries containing lots of ovules, and so produce fruit with many seeds, like sweet a kiwi fruit.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Seed dispersal<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For the seeds to grow into healthy new plants, they must be \u2018<strong>dispersed<\/strong>\u2019 or spread away from each other and their parent plant.<\/p>\n<p>This is important, as it means there will be\u00a0<strong>less competition for the sunlight, water and nutrients<\/strong> in the soil that they need to grow big and strong!<\/p>\n<p>But how can the seeds in the fruit be transported to a new spot? Well, there are a few ways, actually&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-5.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11452\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-5.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-5.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-5-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animals<\/strong>: lots of plants use their animal buddies to help them spread their seeds. When animals or birds guzzle up the plant\u2019s yummy fruit, the <strong>seeds pass through their bodies undigested<\/strong> and pop out in their poop.<\/p>\n<p>Some fruits have little hooks on their skin that attach the fur of passing animals, allowing them to be carried away from the parent plant.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wind<\/strong>: other plants have specially adapted seeds that are dispersed by the wind. One such plant is the dandelion, which has feathery parachutes attached to its seeds, so they can drift through the air.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Water<\/strong>: many plants that grow in or near water produce light seeds that fall on the water, float and get get carried away.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-4.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11451\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-4.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-4.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-4-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Exploding pods<\/strong>: there are some plants that are able to spread their seeds all by themselves! They have exploding pods that burst open when ripe, flinging the seeds into the air! Cool, eh?<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong><u>Seed\u00a0germination<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>When a seed settles in suitable ground, it breaks open and the embryo starts to grow. This part of the process is called \u2018<strong>germination<\/strong>\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>The seed will only germinate, however, if the soil is <strong>healthy<\/strong>, <strong>warm enough<\/strong> and if there is<strong> access to water<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-11449\" src=\"http:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-2.jpg\" alt=\"plant reproduction\" width=\"635\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-2.jpg 635w, https:\/\/cdn.creatureandcoagency.com\/uploads\/2017\/09\/plant-reproduction-2-300x191.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 635px) 100vw, 635px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Roots grow down<\/strong> into the ground, taking up water and nutrients, and a <strong>shoot grows up<\/strong> through the soil towards the sky.<\/p>\n<p>The shoot will develop into a stem, transporting water and minerals from the roots up to the rest of the plant. The stem will also eventually support leaves to make food for the plant through a process known as <strong>photosynthesis<\/strong>*<\/p>\n<p>The plant will continue to grow until it is mature and ready to reproduce again. And what next? You guessed it\u2026the <strong>new plant produces beautiful flowers<\/strong> and the cycle starts all over again.<\/p>\n<p>Now, that\u2019s why we say flower power!<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you enjoy reading about the plant life cycle? Leave a comment below and let us know!<\/h2>\n<h4>*Photosynthesis is a process where green plants use\u00a0water, light and carbon dioxide to create their food and release oxygen into the air.<\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We all love beautiful flowers. Maybe you enjoy painting pretty pictures of flowers, or perhaps you like to give them to your mum as a special gift on her birthday?! But did you know that the life cycle of a plant plays a super important part in the plant kingdom? The life cycle of a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.natgeokids.com\/au\/discover\/science\/nature\/the-life-cycle-of-flowering-plants\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">The life cycle of flowering plants<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":534,"featured_media":11462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[28],"tags":[1776,1775,1774,947,1057,206],"christmas-category":[],"class_list":["post-11445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nature","tag-flowering-plants","tag-plant-life-cycle","tag-plant-reproduction","tag-science","tag-science-and-nature","tag-science-for-kids","countries-australia","countries-ireland","countries-new-zealand","countries-south-africa","countries-united-kingdom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Life cycle of a plant | Science &amp; Nature | National Geographic Kids<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about the life cycle of a plant. 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