There are two main ways in which plants reproduce. In sexual reproduction, pollen is transferred by insects or the wind from one part of a flower to another, in such a way that fertilization can take place. Seeds are then formed. These seeds in turn are distributed in different ways to a spot where they can germinate and grow. In asexual reproduction, a plant can reproduce without fertilization taking place. It may, for example, reproduce by sending out runners from its roots or by growing new plants on the tips of its leaves or branches. Plants reproduce sexually through the fusion of male and female gametes in the flower. Asexual reproduction is through stems, roots and leaves.
Plant reproduction comes in two types: sexual and asexual. Sexual reproduction is similar to human reproduction, which involves the fusion of the male (pollen) and female (ovule) gametes to form a new organism that inherits the genes of both the parents. The sexually reproductive part of a plant is the flower. Asexual reproduction, on the other hand, involves vegetative reproduction through stems, roots and leaves. Essentially, the parent plant regenerates itself by using one of its parts (roots, stems or leaves).
Both sexual and asexual methods of reproduction have their own set of advantages. In sexual reproduction, the new plant formed is a combination of genes, giving it an advantage in new ways concerning adaptation in changing environments. It can also avoid the transmission of certain diseases, due to some genes being dominant and others being recessive. Asexual reproduction is faster and perhaps the only manner of reproduction in species that do not bear flowers. Since asexual reproduction is basically the cloning of the parent plant, farmers can ensure that there is no genetic abnormality by selecting a healthy plant for reproduction.
The flower consists of four whorls or parts (calyx, corolla, androecium and gynoecium). The first whorl is the calyx, which contains the green sepals. The second whorl is the corolla, which contains the petals. The petals are brightly colored to attract the agents of pollination (bees and other insects) that aid in reproduction. The petals also protect the inner two whorls, which are directly involved in reproduction. The third whorl is the Androecium—the male reproductive part of the plant. The innermost whorl is the gynoecium—the female reproductive part of a plant.
The androecium contains a bundle of stamens that consist of a tube called a filament and the swollen end called the anther. The anther contains the pollen grains. Once matured, the pollen grains burst out in order to reach the female reproductive part of the flower.
The gynoecium contains the pistil, which is composed of the tube (style) that reaches the ovary. The swollen tip of the style is the stigma, which receives the pollen grains. The ovary contains the ovules, which turn into the seeds.
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