Stage 1: Fertilised Seed
A dormant seed lies waiting in the ground. It needs Water, Oxygen and Warmth (WOW) if it is to successfully develop into a flowering plant.
Seeds can stay in the ground for a long time like this. Sometimes they will perish and rot, other times they will be eaten by hungry animals. However, the lucky ones will have the chance to develop and grow into flowering plants, trees or shrubs.
Stage 2: Germination
If all the needs of the seed are met, i.e. it has all the water, oxygen, and warmth it needs it may start to germinate. The first signs of this happening will be the start of roots growing down into the soil. The roots know to grow downwards under the influence of gravity. Following the start of the growth of its roots the seed will then start to grow a stem. Miraculously, the stem appears to know that it needs to grow upwards towards the light and so pushes its way upwards through the soil.
Stage 3: Growth
The stem will continue to grow bigger and bigger, developing leaves and then eventually producing its flowers.
Stage 4: Mature Flower
The mature flower contains the parts of the plant which enable it to reproduce.
Stage 5: Pollination
In order for the plant to be able to reproduce the flower needs to be pollinated.
Methods of Pollination
Mature flowers produce pollen which is dispersed through a variety of means.
Examples of this are:
By the wind
or by insects
Stage 6: Fertilisation
Pollen grains land on the flower and if they reach the reproductive parts the flower reacts by growing a pollen tube which stretches down to the ovary of the flower.
Stage 7: Seed Formation
Seeds form in the ovary and the ovary swells and ripens. A ripened ovary is known as a Fruit, examples of which include Apples. So the pips inside an apple are actually seeds.
Stage 8: Seed Dispersal
The fruit of the plant will eventually dry out and burst open, releasing the seeds into the environment, where they are dispersed by the wind, insects, and animals such as birds and bats.
Stage 9: The Life Cycle Starts Again
The fertilised seeds fall to the ground and the lifecycle starts all over again.
Flowering Plant Facts
Some plants have seed pods that literally burst open dispersing the seeds as they do so.
Some plants rely on animals brushing past the stems to knock the seed pods and shake the seeds out onto the ground.
Seeds can be dispersed over long distances by the wind, animals, insects and birds.
Acorns are the seeds of Oak trees.
Apple pips are in fact the seeds.
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© South Staffordshire Water 2006