Chapter 2: Resproduction in Flowering Plants

The male reproductive part of a flower, which consists of the anther and filament, is called the...

• Pistil

• Petal

• Stamen

• Sepal

Answer explanation

The stamen is the correct term for the entire male reproductive organ of a flower, which includes the anther (produces pollen) and the filament (the stalk).

The primary function of the brightly coloured petals on a flower is to...

• Protect the bud before it opens

• Attract insects and other animals for pollination

• Produce pollen grains

• Develop into the fruit after fertilisation

Answer explanation

Petals have bright colours, patterns, and scents to act as visual and chemical signals, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies to the flower.

A hibiscus flower has both stamens and a pistil in the same flower. Therefore, the hibiscus flower is classified as a...

• Imperfect flower

• Sterile flower

• Perfect flower

• Unisexual flower

Answer explanation

A flower that possesses both male (stamen) and female (pistil) reproductive organs is defined as a perfect flower. An imperfect flower would have only one or the other.

A botanist discovers a new flower species. It has very small, dull green petals, no scent, and lacks nectaries. Based on these characteristics, what is the most likely primary role of its petals?

• Attracting nocturnal pollinators like bats

• Providing a large landing platform for butterflies

• Simply protecting the reproductive organs without needing to attract pollinators

• Storing large amounts of water

Answer explanation

The flower's characteristics (small, dull, no scent, no nectar) all point to it not needing to attract animals for pollination. Therefore, its petals serve the most basic function: protecting the stamen and pistil inside.

The process of transferring pollen from the anther to the stigma is called...

• Fertilisation

• Germination

• Pollination

• Dispersal

Answer explanation

Pollination is the specific term for the transfer of pollen from the male part (anther) to the female part (stigma). It is the step that precedes fertilisation.

Which of the following characteristics is most typical of a wind-pollinated flower?

• Large, colourful petals and a sweet scent

• Sticky pollen and nectar production

• Small petals and a large, feathery stigma

• Located low to the ground

Answer explanation

Wind-pollinated flowers don't need to attract animals, so they have small petals. They produce large amounts of light pollen and have a large, feathery stigma to effectively catch the pollen carried by the wind.

Date palm trees are often grown in plantations with only female trees to maximize fruit production. To produce dates, farmers collect pollen from male trees and dust it onto the flowers of the female trees. This is a clear example of pollination assisted by...

• Wind

• Animals

• Water

• Humans

Answer explanation

Since farmers are manually transferring the pollen, this is a form of artificial pollination carried out by humans. This is common in agriculture for crops like vanilla and dates.

A farmer notices that his corn crop yield is very low this year. The corn plants grew tall and healthy, but very few kernels developed on the cobs. He remembers that during the flowering season, there was unusually calm weather with almost no wind for several weeks. What is the most likely reason for the poor crop yield?

• The plants did not receive enough sunlight.

• A lack of wind prevented successful pollination.

• The seeds were dispersed too early by animals.

• The soil was lacking essential nutrients for seed formation.

Answer explanation

Corn relies on wind for pollination. The scenario states there was no wind during the flowering season. Without wind to carry the pollen to the silks (female flowers), pollination failed, thus no kernels (seeds) were formed despite the plant being healthy.

After successful fertilisation, which part of the flower develops into the fruit?

• Ovule

• Ovary

• Petal

• Stigma

Answer explanation

• The ovary is the part of the pistil that encloses the ovules. After the ovules are fertilised, the ovary wall develops and ripens into the fruit. The ovules themselves become the seeds.

The fusion of a male gamete (sperm) with the female gamete (egg cell) results in the formation of a...

• Zygote

• Pollen tube

• Endosperm

• Seed coat

Answer explanation

A zygote is the single cell that results from the fusion of male and female gametes. This cell will then divide and develop into the embryo.