in collaboration with: Mira Vista School Garden: Plant Pollination - Advanced 2017-2018 school year Dennis Shusterman & Joni Stickney, Contra Costa County Master Gardeners in collaboration with: Gabriella Rossi, Brett Lackey, Sarita Pockell & Melanie Pepper West Contra Costa County Unified School District

Objectives To recognize the structures within flowers To understand what pollination is and how it occurs To appreciate how flowers, by producing seeds and fruit, reproduce plants and provide food To understand why it is important to protect the environment for insect (and other) pollinators

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach Stems Asparagus

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach Stems Asparagus Roots Carrots

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach Stems Asparagus Roots Carrots Flowers Broccoli

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach Stems Asparagus Roots Carrots Flowers Broccoli Fruit Strawberry

Edible garden plants: What do we eat? Part Example Leaves Spinach Stems Asparagus Roots Carrots Flowers Broccoli Fruit Strawberry Seeds Sunflower

Edible Plants: Types of Fruits

What parts does a typical flower have?

What parts does a typical flower have? Petals Sepals

What parts does a typical flower have? Male = Stamen Anther Filament

What parts does a typical flower have? Female = Pistil Stigma Style Ovary

What parts does a typical flower have? Male = Stamen Anther Filament Female = Pistil Stigma Style Ovary

The poppy: A “Typical flower”

The poppy: A “Typical flower”

But not all flowers are “typical” !!! Irregular (Legumes) Composite (Sunflower) Imperfect (Corn)

Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Types of Flowers Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Perfect flowers (Male and female parts on same flower) Strawberry

Perfect Flowers: Strawberry

Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Types of Flowers Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Perfect flowers (Male and female parts on same flower) Strawberry Imperfect flowers (Male and female parts on separate flowers) Corn, Squash

Imperfect flowers on the same plant: Corn Male Corn Flower Female Corn Flower

Imperfect flowers on the same plant: Squash Male Squash Flower Female Squash Flower

Types of Flowers Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Male and female flowers on separate plants (“Dioecious”) Perfect flowers (Male and female parts on same flower) Strawberry --- Imperfect flowers (Male and female parts on separate flowers) Corn, Squash Asparagus

Imperfect flowers on separate plants: Asparagus Male Asparagus Flower Female Asparagus Flower

Types of Flowers Male and female flower parts on the same plant (“Monoecious”) Male and female flowers on separate plants (“Dioecious”) Perfect flowers (Male and female parts on same flower) Strawberry --- Imperfect flowers (Male and female parts on separate flowers) Corn, Squash Asparagus

What is pollination?

How does a perfect flower pollinate? Male = Stamen Anther Female = Pistil Stigma Pollen

Self-pollination

Cross-pollination by wind

Cross-pollination by insects

What is pollination?

What is pollination?

What is pollination?

How does pollination occur?

How does pollination occur? Wind

How does pollination occur? Wind Water

How does pollination occur? Wind Water Insects

How does pollination occur? Wind Water Insects Bats

How does pollination occur? Wind Water Insects Bats Birds

Animal pollinators: Bees

Animal pollinators: Flies

Animal pollinators: Butterflies

Animal pollinators: Moths

Animal pollinators: Wasps

Animal pollinators: Crawling insects

Animal pollinators: Bats

Animal pollinators: Birds

Major threats to pollinators Habitat loss, fragmentation, & degradation Non-native species & disease Pollution, including pesticides Climate change

Resources: Print & Interactive Interactive Lessons on flower anatomy and pollination Flower Anatomy Animation Plant Breeding Animation Flowers (technical animation) Includes flower anatomy & classification; pollination & genetics Major threats to pollinators

Resources: Videos Pollinators: Putting Food on the Table Pollination: Trading Food for Fertilization The Beauty of Pollination Flowers and Pollination Introduction to Pollination Pollination of Plants Types of Pollination