The pollen tube

The idea

After pollen lands on a suitable stigma, a tube grows out of the pollen grain and travels through the style to reach the female germ-cells in the ovary.

A long way down

A pollen grain lands on the stigma at the top of the pistil. The egg cells are far below, in the ovary.

How can the pollen reach them?

• A tube grows out of the pollen grain
• The wind blows it down
• The ovary moves up

Follow the tube

Press Next step.

A tube to the ovary

After the pollen lands on a suitable stigma, it has to reach the female germ-cells in the ovary. A tube grows out of the pollen grain and travels through the style to the ovary.

After pollen lands on a suitable stigma, a tube grows out of the pollen grain and travels through the style to reach the female germ-cells in the ovary.

Notes

A tube grows out of the pollen grain on a suitable stigma and travels through the style to the female germ-cells in the ovary.

Check yourself

What grows out of a pollen grain that has landed on a suitable stigma?

Through which part of the pistil does the tube travel?

Where does the tube have to reach?

• A seed. A seed forms later from the ovule. A tube grows out of the pollen grain.
• A new stamen. What grows out of the pollen grain is a tube that travels toward the ovary.
• A tube — correct. Yes!
• The style — correct. Yes!
• The stigma, going upward. The pollen lands on the stigma, and the tube then travels through the style.
• The petals. The tube travels through the style, a part of the pistil.
• The stamen. The stamen is the male part and produces pollen.
• The ovary, where the female germ-cells are — correct. Yes!
• The sepals. The tube has to reach the female germ-cells, which are in the ovary.