fbpx

KidsKonnect

Pollination Facts & Worksheets

In plants, sexual reproduction includes pollination. It explains how pollen grains reach a plant's female reproductive system. The male gametes in pollen grains must go to the female gamete(s) in order to fertilize them.

Search for Worksheets

Worksheets /Science /Pollination Facts & Worksheets

Premium
Not ready to purchase a subscription? Click to download the free sample version   Download sample

In plants, sexual reproduction includes pollination. It explains how pollen grains reach a plant’s female reproductive system. The male gametes in pollen grains must go to the female gamete(s) in order to fertilize them. Each pollen grain is haploid, meaning that it contains half of the DNA (genetic data) required to create a new plant.

See the fact file below for more information on Pollination, or you can download our 26-page Pollination worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

METHODS OF POLLINATION

  • Pollen must travel from one bloom to another in plants that bear flowers. This can happen in one of two ways: either by living things like birds or insects or by non-living things like wind or water.
  • A large portion of the pollen is carried back to the nest or hive, where it is used as a source of protein, which the larvae most desperately need. Some get transferred to the next flower’s sticky female stigma. A pollen tube descends to enable the male gamete to fertilize an egg and create a seed.
  • Only 10% of blooming plants undergo abiotic (non-living) pollination, and animals pollinate 90% of flowering plants. The wind performs 98% of these abiotic pollinations, while water only performs 2%.

WHAT FOLLOWS AFTER POLLINATION?

  • Fertilization occurs following pollination. Two sperm cells fertilize cells in the plant ovary in a process known as double fertilization in plants. A typical fertilization, which results in the embryo, is one of these. The other type of fertilization creates the seed endosperm and is distinct from other types.
  • When a pollen grain sticks to the stigma of the pistil (the female reproductive component), the process gets started. It then germinates and develops a lengthy pollen tube. A haploid cell slides along the pollen tube behind the nucleus as it develops. By mitosis, this cell differentiates into two haploid sperm cells.
  • The pollen tube extends from the stigma through the style and into the ovary as it expands. The ovule is where the pollen tube enters and discharges its contents, which include sperm cells. One sperm travels to the egg cell to fertilize it, creating a diploid (2n) zygote. A triploid (3n) cell is created when the second sperm cell unites with two cell nuclei.
  • The triploid cell transforms into the endosperm, the embryo’s food source, as the zygote grows into an embryo. The ovule will now grow into a seed, and the ovary will become a fruit.

GYMNOSPERMS

  • Any vascular plant that reproduces via an exposed seed, or ovule, is considered a gymnosperm. Many gymnosperms bear their seeds in cones, which are known as “naked seeds” because they are not visible until they are fully developed.
  • Most are pollinated by wind. Co-evolution for pollination has occurred in several gymnosperms and their insect pollinators. The best-known examples are beetle species that belong to the order Cycadales and the members of that order.

FAMILIES OF FLOWERING PLANTS

  • Animal pollination became extremely common and specialized with the evolution of angiosperms (flowering plants). Different blooming plant families typically specialize in one type of pollination. Occasionally, a few genera switch from one approach to another.
  • Ranunculaceae: carried out by insects. The wind only pollinates one genus.
  • Compositae (Asteraceae): Insects carry out almost all of the pollination in this, the biggest family. Two genus groupings have switched to wind pollination.
  • Cyperaceae: pollinated primarily by wind. Insects pollinate one genus.
  • Moraceae: The best example of a widespread switch from wind to insect pollination is in the mulberry family. Wind pollinates all its sister families (Ulmaceae, Cannabaceae, and Urticaceae).
  • Gramineae (Poaceae): The grasses have developed exceptional adaptations for wind pollination. There are now just two genera that use insect pollination.

POLLINATION SYNDROME

  • The collection of adaptive characteristics known as pollination syndrome aids in the pollination of flowers.
  • Wind Pollination. Flowers that are pollinated by wind are typically little and unassuming (not showy). They don’t generate nectar or have a fragrance. The stamens are often lengthy and shoot up out of the flower, but the anthers can produce a lot of pollen grains. In order to capture the pollen grains, their stigmas may be big and feathery. 

ANIMAL POLLINATION

  • Beetle Pollination. Flowers that have been pollinated by beetles are often big, greenish, or off-white in color and strongly fragrant. Smells can be pleasant, spicy, or akin to the smell of rotting organic matter. In Southern California and the montane grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, beetles play an essential role in pollination.
  • Fly Pollination. Adult bee flies and hoverflies are among the flies that feed on nectar and pollen. They visit blooms that are purple, violet, blue, or white and have a powerful aroma. On the other hand, some wild orchids that don’t provide nectar are attractive to male fruit flies. Instead, they create a pheromone that is similar to the fly’s sex pheromone. In high-altitude and high-latitude regions where they are abundant and other insect groups may be sparse, flies frequently serve as significant pollinators.
  • Bee Pollination. Yellow or blue blooms with UV nectar cues and aroma are often those that are pollinated by bees.
  • Because some plants’ anthers internally produce pollen, which must be shaken out by buzzing (a process known as “sonication”), only bees can pollinate them. The only animals that accomplish this are bumblebees.
  • Wasp Pollination. Several plant species are also pollinated by wasps, which are significant pollen carriers and, in some cases, even more effective pollinators than bees.
  • Lepidoptera Pollination. Flowers that attract butterflies are frequently big and spectacular, pink or lavender in color, frequently include a landing space, and are typically perfumed. More nectar is provided than pollen because butterflies cannot digest pollen (with one notable exception). 
  • Bird Pollination. Although there are species that are similar elsewhere in the world, hummingbirds are the most well-known nectar-feeding birds in North America.
  • Hummingbirds hover in front of flowers that are attractive to them, which are typically huge red or orange tubes with a lot of nectar generated during the day. 
  • Bat Pollination. Flowers that are pollinated by bats typically have a strong odor, are large and showy, white or pale in color, and open at night. They frequently resemble bells and are huge. These plants often provide nectar for lengthy durations, and bats consume it.

Pollination Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Pollination across 26 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Pollination. In plants, sexual reproduction includes pollination. It explains how pollen grains reach a plant’s female reproductive system. The male gametes in pollen grains must go to the female gamete(s) in order to fertilize them.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Pollination Facts
  2. Super Pollinator
  3. 1,2,3 Pollinate!
  4. We are Pollinators too!
  5. Pollina-true
  6. Twisted Blooms
  7. Parts of a Flower
  8. Nehemiah Grew
  9. Flowers of Attraction
  10. Two types of Pollination
  11. Wisdom in Blooms

Frequently Asked Questions

What is pollination?

Pollination is the process by which pollen grains are transferred from the male part of a flower (anther) to the female part (stigma) of the same or another flower, leading to fertilization and the production of seeds.

What are the main agents of pollination?

The main agents of pollination are insects (such as bees, butterflies, and flies), birds (such as hummingbirds), bats, and wind. These agents help transfer pollen from the male to the female reproductive structures of flowers.

How does insect pollination occur?

Insect pollination occurs when insects visit flowers in search of nectar or pollen. As they move from flower to flower, pollen from the anthers sticks to their bodies. When they visit another flower, some of this pollen is transferred to the stigma, facilitating fertilization.

What is the role of wind in pollination?

Wind pollination, also known as anemophily, occurs in plants that produce lightweight and abundant pollen. These plants lack colorful and scented flowers as they don’t rely on attracting insects or animals. The wind carries the pollen grains to nearby flowers for pollination.

Why is pollination important?

Pollination is vital for the reproduction of flowering plants and the production of fruits and seeds. It plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Additionally, pollination is essential for the production of many crops that contribute to human food supply, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.

Link/cite this page

If you reference any of the content on this page on your own website, please use the code below to cite this page as the original source.

Link will appear as Pollination Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 19, 2023

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

Related Resources