3.3a Insect Pollination

- Process of pollinating flower = there has to be a transfer of pollen (pollen - small structure containing the male nuclei) from the anther to the stigma of another flower
- The transfer of this takes place by insects. Therefore, necessary for the first flower to attract the insect
- When pollen goes from one plant to another = cross pollination
- adaptation to attract insect:
     - signals: colour petals, scents
     - value: food = nectaries / fructose, pollen (as protein)
- stamen = male part of the plant composed of the anther which produces the pollen grains
- anther and filament form the stamen
- female part: stigma - where pollen grains fall, style - connects stigma to ovary, ovaries - which contain eggs called ovules.
- The whole female structure is called the carpel
- The stamen is the male part