Plant Reproduction (600-700) _02

Mom loves butterflies. She has pictures of them all over the house. She loves watching them in the yard. For her, there can never be enough butterflies. That explains her recent trip to the nursery where she bought special plants known to attract them.

The plants she has chosen are known for attracting butterflies. She has purchased butterfly weed and some joe-pye weed. She is planting them near the big oak tree. This will be perfect for the butterflies and caterpillars. The butterflies need these plants. The plants also need the butterflies just as much.

Most plants start their life as a seed. The seed contains the plant’s embryo. Think about the last time you ate an apple or an orange. Did you notice the seeds inside the fruit? That is how the plant reproduces. In the wild, the seeds may just rot and fall to the ground. Instead, the ripe fruit could be eaten by an animal. The animal will then carry the seed to another area. In either case, the fruit will end up on the ground. When things are perfect for the seed, it will begin to grow.

Unlike animals, there are no boy or girl plants. Plants have both male and female parts. They include the stamen, pistil, petals, and sepals.