Pollination and seed dispersal

How flowers are pollinated and how plants spread their seeds to new places

Name:

Date:

Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
What is pollination? A) The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma B) When a seed starts to grow into a new plant C) When a flower opens for the first time D) When water travels up the stem to the leaves
Answer:
2
A sycamore seed has a wing shape. How is it most likely to be dispersed? A) By the wind B) By water C) By being eaten by animals D) By exploding
Answer:
3
What is pollination? A) The transfer of pollen from the stamen to the carpel B) When a seed grows into a new plant C) When water moves up a stem D) When a flower opens
Answer:
4
True or false? Bees and butterflies help pollinate many flowering plants. A) True B) False
Answer:
5
Label the parts of the flower involved in pollination.
Answer:
6
Match each seed to the way it is dispersed. Match each item on the left to one on the right. Left: Dandelion, Coconut, Blackberry, Burdock Right: Wind, Water, Animal (eaten), Animal (sticks to fur)
Answer:
7
Put these steps of insect pollination in the correct order. Put these in order: A bee visits a flower to drink nectar, Pollen sticks to the bee's body, The bee flies to another flower, Pollen rubs off onto the stigma
Answer:
8
Put these stages of a flowering plant's life cycle in order. Put these in order: Pollination, Fertilisation, Seed formation, Seed dispersal, Germination
Answer:
9
True or false? Peapods can split open and fling their seeds out. This is dispersal by explosion. A) True B) False
Answer:
10
True or false? If pollinators like bees decreased, many crops could fail. A) True B) False
Answer:

Answer key

Pollination and seed dispersal · for parents and teachers

1
The transfer of pollen from an anther to a stigma
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther (male part) to the stigma (female part). It happens before fertilisation.
2
By the wind
Sycamore seeds spin like helicopters as they fall, so the wind carries them away from the parent tree.
3
The transfer of pollen from the stamen to the carpel
Pollination is the movement of pollen from the male part (stamen) to the female part (carpel) of a flower.
4
True
True. Insects like bees and butterflies pick up pollen from one flower and carry it to another.
5
anther: anther; stigma: stigma; petal: petal; ovary: ovary
Pollen is made on the anther and lands on the sticky stigma. Petals attract pollinators. Fertilisation then takes place in the ovary.
6
Dandelion → Wind; Coconut → Water; Blackberry → Animal (eaten); Burdock → Animal (sticks to fur)
Dandelions have fluffy parachutes for wind. Coconuts float on water. Berries are eaten and seeds pass through animals. Burrs hook onto fur.
7
A bee visits a flower to drink nectar, Pollen sticks to the bee's body, The bee flies to another flower, Pollen rubs off onto the stigma
Bees come for nectar, get dusted with pollen, then carry it to the next flower's stigma. This is how insect pollination works.
8
Pollination, Fertilisation, Seed formation, Seed dispersal, Germination
Pollination (pollen moves) - fertilisation (pollen and egg join) - seeds form - seeds are dispersed - germination (seeds grow into new plants).
9
True
True. Some plants (peas, gorse, geraniums) use explosive dispersal - the dry pod splits and shoots seeds outwards.
10
True
True. Many crops rely on bees and other pollinators. Losing them would affect food supply.