Flower Dissection

Students carefully take apart several fresh flowers to identify and compare major plant structures (stem, leaves, petals, stamen, pistil) and relate those parts to pollination and seed formation. Parts are sorted and labeled to compare within a species and across different flowers.

• Follow instructions provided in the links below.

FLOWER DISSECTION: Reproduction in Flowering Plants Virtual Lab | Virtual Science Shorts - Cox Science Center and Aquarium:

Flower Dissection with Emily - LowellLandTrust:

📄 Dissect a Flower - Science Buddies: https://www.sciencebuddies.org/stem-activities/flower-dissection

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.)