Page 19 - 新思维科学学生用书5 样章

1 Life cycles of flowering plants

Pollination

Pollination is the movement of pollen from the stamen of a flower to the stigma of the same

kind of flower. There are two main ways that pollen is moved like this: by insects or by wind.

Pollination by insects

Have you noticed bees, butterflies and other insects on flowers? These insects are called

pollinators. Certain insects are attracted to certain types of flowers. For example, butterflies
like to visit flowers that are big and have lots of nectar, a sweet liquid. When the insects fly

into the flower to feed on nectar inside the flower, they brush against the anthers. Pollen

grains from the anthers stick to the insect’s body. The insect carries the pollen to the stigma
of the same flower or another flower.

Flowers pollinated by insects are adapted to attract pollinators in the following ways:

• They are white or have brightly coloured petals.
• They have a scent.

• They produce nectar.
• They have marks on the petals to guide the insects to the nectar inside the flower.

18