(Book) Reproduction

Flowering plants evolved millions of years ago. Unlike animals, there are no boy or girl plants. Plants have both male and female parts. That does not mean that plants do not need help to reproduce.

Some plants form seeds. These are called flowering seed plants. The seeds form in the plant's ovaries. A plant's fruit may fall to the ground and start to grow. A plant's fruit may get eaten by animals. If eaten, the seeds of the fruit are passed through the animal's digestive tract. As the animal eliminates its waste, the seeds are spread around. Because animals do not stay in one place, they help the plant populate a bigger area. The animal gets a tasty treat and helps the plant reproduce.

The ovaries are just one of the structures of a plant. The flower's job is to attract animals, such as bees and birds. The animals are able to spread the pollen to other plants. Animals are needed to get the pollen from the male to the female parts of the plant. It is important for diversity that the pollen is passed from one plant to another.