KS3 Plant Reproduction Knowledge Organiser
Key Words Parts of a Flower Roles
Reproduction involving
only one parent that Part of
Function
asexual the Flower
produces genetically
reproduction stigma petal
identical offspring
(clones). Produces male sex cells (pollen
anther
grains).
A piece of plant that is cut
from a parent plant and style anther
The female reproductive part
cutting then made to form roots
carpel stamen carpel of the flower, consisting of the
and shoots by putting it ovary, ovule, style and stigma.
in favourable conditions.
ovary filament
The fusion of male and A stalk-like structure that
fertilisation filament
female gametes. supports the anther.
gamete A male or female sex cell.
Produces female sex cells
ovary
(eggs).
In plants, the growth ovule sepal
germination from a seed after a period
of dormancy. Develops into a seed after
ovule
fertilisation.
A sugary liquid which Adaptations of Plants for Pollination
nectar attracts pollinating
animals to a flower. May be brightly coloured to
Insect-Pollinated Plants Wind-Pollinated Plants petal
attract insects.
pollen The male plant sex cell.
They have bright petals with a sweet smell to attract No petals or small green/brown petals, as no need
insects. to attract insects. These protect the flower before
Side branches of a plant sepal it is opened when it is still a
that have plantlets on The anther hangs loosely out of the plant to make it bud. They are often green.
The stigma and anther are inside the flower.
easier for wind to blow it from the plant.
them that can grow into
runners
a new plant. Some plants The male part of a flower
reproduce asexually by The stigma is sticky, so that pollen carried from the The stigma hangs outside of the plant to make it stamen consisting of an anther held up
insects sticks to it. easier to catch pollen on the wind on a filament
producing these.
Pollen grains are larger and can easily stick to The stigma may be feathery or sticky to catch pollen The top of the female part of
Reproduction in which insects, so fewer pollen grains need to be produced. blown by the wind.
stigma the flower, which is sticky, so
male and female gametes pollen grains stick to it.
fuse at fertilisation to The anthers are firm and rigid to allow the insects They produce large amounts of pollen to increase
sexual reproduction to brush against them. the chances of it reaching another plant.
produce offspring that The tube connecting the stigma
are genetically different style to the ovary which pollen
They often contain nectar, which is sweet and
to the parents. Their pollen has a low mass so can be blown far on travels down.
sugary to attract insects. Some bees use nectar to
the wind.
make honey.
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KS3 Plant Reproduction Knowledge Organiser
Seed Dispersal
Method of Seed Dispersal Description Adaptations
Seeds stick to the animals’ fur when they brush past them. This means they
are transported with the animal and eventually fall, or are rubbed off, in a Seeds have hooks or spikes to hook onto the fur of passing animals.
animal dispersal different location. Examples include burrs or goose grass. Seeds are coated in a sticky substance to stick to animals as they pass.
(external) Animals such as squirrels store hard nuts and seeds to be eaten during winter. Seeds or nuts provide a food source which animals want to bury for future
If the seeds are not retrieved by the squirrel they can germinate. Examples use.
include acorns.
Some seeds are found in fruits that are eaten by animals. The seeds pass
animal dispersal through the digestive systems of the animals and are deposited on the The fruit is brightly coloured and edible to attract animals to eat it.
(internal) ground in a different place in the animals’ faeces. Examples include plums The seed is usually small and can be in a hard case for protection.
and strawberries.
Heavy nuts and fruits drop from branches due to gravity and break open
when they hit the ground.
Some plants produce nuts or fruits. When these are ripe, they fall from the
Some fruits are round in shape to allow them to roll as far away as possible
drop and roll tree and roll away when they hit the ground, allowing them to grow new
when they hit the ground.
plants away from the parent. Examples include apples and acorns.
Some trees grow very tall before producing fruits, so when the fruit hits the
ground it does so with a large force.
These seeds are dispersed in summer when one side of the pod dries more
Some plants, such as peas, produce pods which can explode, dispersing the
explosion quickly than the other causing it to buckle and split open and ejecting the
seeds.
seeds.
In certain environments, some plants will grow near a water source such as The seeds have a low density and will float.
water dispersal a river or ocean. The seeds or fruits from these plants will fall into the water
and be carried away to another area. Examples include coconuts. The seeds can often be transported by wind as well as water.
Dandelions seeds have feathers or fluff which act as parachutes and are
carried on the wind. The seeds are very light and can be carried a long way
by the wind. The feathery parts also create a large surface area to allow the
Some plants such as dandelions or sycamore seeds use the wind to help them seeds to catch as much of the wind as possible.
wind dispersal disperse their seeds. The force exerted on these seeds by the wind is enough
to dislodge them from the plant and carry them long distances. Sycamore seeds have ‘wings’ which provide a large surface area to be caught
in the wind. They twist and turn in the wind to carry the seeds away from
the parent plant. The seeds are relatively heavy and therefore to be most
effective, need to be released from a high up in windy conditions.
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