Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants: common misconceptions

If your child says… “Flowers only attract insects.”

Ask together

What jobs do the exposed parts have after the petals are gone?

What’s true

A flower's stamens and pistil carry out reproduction.

If your child says… “A pollen grain is one male gamete.”

Ask together

Why does your pollen sketch contain a smaller cell inside the larger one?

What’s true

A pollen grain contains cells that perform different jobs.

If your child says… “Eight nuclei must mean eight cells.”

Ask together

Is there a cell boundary between the two central nuclei?

What’s true

Two polar nuclei share one central cell.

If your child says… “Different flowers mean different plant parents.”

Ask together

Where do both flower stalks lead?

What’s true

Geitonogamy uses two flowers belonging to one plant.

If your child says… “We only need the bag after adding pollen.”

Ask together

What would keep visiting insects away before we apply our selected pollen?

What’s true

Bagging before and after the chosen pollination reduces contamination by unwanted pollen.

If your child says… “Both male gametes fertilise eggs.”

Ask together

How many eggs can you find beside the two fusion routes?

What’s true

One male nucleus joins the egg nucleus, while the other joins both polar nuclei.

If your child says… “A resting seed is dead.”

Ask together

What did water, air and suitable warmth allow your pea's embryo to do?

What’s true

A viable resting seed stays alive and resumes growth when dormancy ends and conditions suit it.

If your child says… “Polyembryony means many seeds inside a fruit.”

Ask together

How many seed coats enclose all these embryos?

What’s true

Polyembryony concerns embryos sharing one seed, regardless of how they formed.