puzzle_page

Here is my latest selection of puzzles based upon the natural world topics which we talk about at the Woodland Education Centre. This one is about how the seeds of plants are dispersed and how plants are pollinated. If you don't know the answers just click on the links to investigate each topic. Wow! There's even a "Ranger's Bad Joke" at the bottom of the page. Have fun!

.....

QUIZ

CROSSWORD

JOKE

WORD SEARCH

Did you know?

Plants, Pollination and seed dispersal
Plants are the most important life form on earth. They form the basis of nearly all food chains. However many plants actually need animals in order to survive. This is true largely for pollination of flowers and sometimes for the dispersal of the seeds they produce.

Many plants are pollinated by insects. Pollination is required before the seed can be produced by the plant. These insect pollinated plants have evolved many adaptations aimed at attracting insects to the flowers. These include colour, scent, height, number and size of flowers as well as the timing of flowering.

Insects attracted to the flower are rewarded with nectar produced in the flower. This is the reason the insects visit the flower. While finding the nectar the insect will often get pollen caught on its body from brushing against the flower's stamens. The stamens are the male parts of the flower. When visiting another flower of the same kind, the pollen may get brushed off on the stigma of this flower. The stigma is the female part of the flower. (Most flowers have both male and female parts). When this happens fertilisation can take place and then seed production can begin.

Seeds when ripe will disperse from the parent plant to start the next generation.

There are various seed adaptations which help this to happen.

Seeds may be carried by the wind, using a parachute of hairs or wing like extensions to help them drift in the wind.

Other types of seed are dispersed by water whilst others are spread by animals. This happens when a furry animal brushes past the type of plant which produces seeds with hooks. The hooks get stuck in the fur and as the animal moves about the seed falls off.

Other types of plant produce fruits which animals eat and the seeds pass out in the droppings. Nuts are the seeds of some plants. Some animals bury or store the nuts so that they can eat them later. These may be forgotten or not required and they may germinate in the spring to provide a new plant.

Certain other plants shoot their seeds out by using an explosive mechanism.

You can find out more about seed dispersal here.

Word Search.
Find the Key Words listed below, in the word search box. If you have printed this page out, put a line through each word as you find them.

Adaptation, Dispersal, Fruit, Fertilisation, Flower, Height, Hooks, Insects, Light, Nectar, Nut, Parachute, Pollen, Poisonous, Scent, Seed, Stamen, Water, Wind, Winged.

Quick Quiz

How are these seeds dispersed? Click on the name of the plant to see a picture of the seed. Then click on your answer or if you have printed this page out, circle the correct answer. If you have speakers turn them on!

Burdock	wind	water	animals	explosive
Thistle	wind	water	animals	explosive
Bramble	wind	water	animals	explosive
Flag Iris	wind	water	animals	explosive
Gorse	wind	water	animals	explosive
Hazel	wind	water	animals	explosive
Dandelion	wind	water	animals	explosive
Sycamore	wind	water	animals	explosive