======Flower Dissection======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
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**Alternative titles:** Plant Reproduction: Flower Dissection
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  *Follow instructions provided in the links below.



====Links==== 
FLOWER DISSECTION: Reproduction in Flowering Plants Virtual Lab | Virtual Science Shorts - Cox Science Center and Aquarium: 
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Flower Dissection with Emily - LowellLandTrust: 
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📄 Dissect a Flower - Science Buddies: [[https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/flower-dissection]]\\

====Variations====
  * Compare monocots vs. dicots (petal/tepal counts in multiples of 3 vs. 4/5; parallel vs. netted leaf veins).
  * View pollen from anthers under a microscope; optionally stain with iodine to highlight grains.
  * Press and mount parts to make a labeled “flower anatomy” poster.
  * Dissect imperfect flowers (male or female only) such as squash blossoms and compare to perfect flowers.
  * Investigate fruit set by dissecting ovaries from flowers at different stages (bud, bloom, post-pollination).



====Safety Precautions====
  * Check for plant or pollen allergies; select alternative species if needed.
  * Use blunt-tipped scissors and tweezers carefully; cut away from fingers.
  * Do not taste or eat any plant parts unless specifically known to be edible and permitted.
  * Wash hands after handling plants and pollen; clean tools and surfaces after the activity.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What roles do the stamen and pistil play in reproduction? (Stamen produces pollen; pistil receives pollen and houses ovules that become seeds.)
  * How can you tell a monocot from a dicot flower using only the bloom? (Monocots often have floral parts in 3s; dicots in 4s or 5s, with other supporting traits.)
  * Why are petals often colorful or scented? (To attract pollinators by visual and chemical signals.)
  * Where are the ovules located and what do they become after fertilization? (Inside the ovary; they become seeds, and the ovary becomes the fruit.)
  * How do sepals differ from petals and what is their function? (Sepals are typically green, protect the bud, and may persist beneath the petals.)
  * What is the difference between pollination and fertilization? (Pollination is pollen transfer to the stigma; fertilization is the union of sperm and egg inside the ovule.)