Lesson 1 of 6

Parts of a flower

Goal: Identify the parts of a flower and their functions.

Puzzles for this lesson

A flower holds the plant’s reproductive organs. The stamens are male and the carpel is female.

Stamen (male): an anther on top of a filament. The anther makes pollen, which contains the male sex cells.
Carpel (female): a stigma, a style and an ovary. The ovary holds the ovules, which contain the female sex cells.
Petals attract insects. Sepals protected the flower while it was a bud.

Your turn

This lesson’s activity starts here in a moment.

I can label the stamen, carpel, petal and sepal.I can say which parts are male and which are female.

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Stamen The male part of a flower: an anther on a filament

Anther Makes the pollen

Filament The stalk that holds up the anther

Carpel The female part of a flower: stigma, style and ovary

Stigma The sticky tip where pollen lands

Style The stalk that joins the stigma to the ovary

Ovary Holds the ovules, and becomes the fruit

Ovule Contains a female sex cell. If it is fertilised, it becomes a seed

Pollen Grains that contain the male sex cells

Petal Often bright and scented, to attract insects

Sepal Protects the flower while it is a bud

For teachers: AQA 3.9.2