How Do Plants Reproduce?

Plant reproduction comes in two types: sexual and asexual. Sexual reproduction is similar to human reproduction, in which male pollen and female ovarian germ cells fuse into a new organism that inherits the genes of both parents. Asexual reproduction involves vegetative reproduction through stems, roots, and leaves. Essentially, the parent plant regenerates itself by using a part of itself. Unisexual or monosexual flowers contain either of the reproductive parts (stamen or pistil). The same plant can have both male and female unisexual flowers. Bisexual or complete flowers contain both the male and the female gametes. The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of a flower is called pollination. During fertilization, the male and female germ cells of the pollen unite to form a zygote. A zygote then transforms into an embryo, which eventually becomes a seed. The seed then germinates into a new plant.