Currently, the existence of more than 300,000 different species of plants is counted. This huge variety, which continues to grow day by day, would be impossible without the sexual reproduction of plants. There are many plants that can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and although both methods are very important for their survival and propagation, only sexual reproduction allows the appearance of new species of plants capable of adapting to changes in the middle.
If you want to learn How plants are sexually reproducedkeep reading in this ecology article about the plants that reproduce sexuallyits characteristics, examples and differences with those that do it asexually.
What is sexual reproduction in plants and their characteristics
Sexual reproduction in plants is one in which the union of gametes, special germ cells. When talking about characteristics of sexual reproduction in plants and of the Phases of plants reproductionthe most common is to take the example of angiosperms. How do plants with flowers reproduce? In this case, the most popular, the following stages must be counted:
- First, pollen is formed in the stamens.
- After this, pollination occurs, which occurs when a pollen grain reaches the pistil. How does pollen get from one plant to another? Here each species has its strategy: it can depend on wind, rain or pollinating animals.
- Next, male gametes come into contact with the ovules, inside the gynece.
- Male and female gametes join, giving rise to fertilization.
- Finally, the formation of the seeds begins in the fertilization phase, after which the gynece will become a fruit with the seed or the seeds inside. These seeds will be extended by the terrain thanks to the fruits that will be consumed by animals.
In addition, the form of fertilization in the Types of plant reproduction: Autogamy and Alogamy.
Autogamy It is the plant fertilization in which the pollen grain fertilizes the same flower in which it has been generated, so that the plant is self -effective. This allows the plant to multiply in conditions that has already been adapted, rapidly increasing their number of individuals when it is already in a beneficial ecological niche.
Alogamyon the other hand, occurs when the pollen grain travels to a different flower. By combining genetic material of two different individuals, there is a greater capacity for adaptation, since mutations and natural selection will adapt to a hostile environment or suffered changes. It must be taken into account, however, that within the Alogamy it is necessary to differentiate xenogamy, which is when we talk about different parents, and geitonogamy, which is when the pollen fertilizes a different flower, but of the same individual.
Names of plants that reproduce sexually
There is a huge amount of examples of plants that reproduce sexually. In fact, all flower plants, Angiospermsthey do. Examples of this are the following floors with flowers, among many others:
- Margaritas
- ROSAS
- Violets
- Dalias
- Hortensias
- Cactus
Las Margaritasscientific name Bellis Perennisit is a perennial leaf herbaceous that reaches heights of up to 20 cm and striking flowers, which are also edible. The Margaritas plant is very decorative and is often used to make infusions of beneficial properties.
The roses They are a genus of bushes, almost always with thorns in their stems, of the Rosaceae family. It is common to call the flower rose that the bush gives, which is called Rosal. There are more than one hundred species of Rosales, some of them especially valued by their great and fragrant flowers, symbol of love in a large number of countries.
The cactus They deserve special mention and that, although these succulents are able to reproduce asexually through the generation of children, a method widely used to spread them as interior or garden plants, they are also able to reproduce sexually through their flowers. It is true, however, that some cactus need a lot of time and very specific conditions to produce their flower, since they are original plants of very hard and dry environments, where this investment of energies and nutrients cannot be done lightly. Here we show you many types of cactus.
In these other items you can meet many more plants with flowers, and therefore reproduce sexually: 15 plants with red flowers and 20 plants with yellow flowers.
Difference between sexual and asexual reproduction in plants
As you know, plants can be reproduced sexually and also asexually. The types of sexual reproduction in plants They allow to expand genetic diversity, giving rise to new species and individuals with new characteristics that allow them to better adapt to their conditions or simply be more beneficial for human cultivation. However, not all types of sexual reproduction in plants imply the participation of two individuals of different genetic material.
The asexual reproduction in plantsInstead, it is always based on cell division by mitosis. It can be shown, when a part of the original body separates and gives rise to the rest of the new individual, or by geming, which is when the parent gives rise to an outbreak or yolk from which a new complete individual is born, who does not have to separate from the first.
Now that you have learned all this about the plants that present sexual reproduction, we encourage you to learn much more reading these other articles on the reproduction of plants and plants with asexual reproduction: characteristics and examples.
If you want to read more articles similar to Plants that reproduce sexuallywe recommend that you enter our biology category.
