Life Cycle of a Female Plant

Reproduction

• Reproduction is the area of life in which males and females of a species differ most greatly. Plants, much like animals, reproduce with the combination of genetic material from two parents, producing an offspring which has characteristics of both parents. This provides the offspring with some level of adaptability and the chance to change through genetic mutation. On this level, the life cycle of a plant, whether male or female, is similar to that of animals in many ways. However, there is a difference which is unique to plants, that of the alternation of generations.

Alternation of Generations

• While animals reproduce by combining egg and sperm, and thus mingling genetic material, there is an extra step involved for plants. In order to reproduce, plants must first create a middle stage called the gametophyte. For a female plant, this means producing spores, which contain only half the plant's genetic material and which then develop into ovaries -- gametophytes -- which produce sex cells, eggs for future fertilization. This gametophyte may be a flower, a cone or a simpler structure, depending on the plant.

Gametophytes

• Flowers and cones are complex structures. While cones are generally either male or female, flowers often contain both male and female gametophytes, due to their different methods of pollination. The purpose of the gametophyte is to produce sex cells, either eggs or sperm depending upon the gametophyte. The eggs produced by female gametophytes remain within it, but the male gametophyte produces sex cells and uses pollen as a ready carrier. The pollen is then transported to the female gametophyte in a number of ways, from animal and insect carriers to wind pollination.

Hermaphrodites

• The production of the gametopyte is important to the reproduction of plants and to their life cycle, because it allows some plants to produce both female and male gametophytes, as is sometimes found with flowers. While not all plants do this, it provides some advantage because it allows a single plant to spread its genetic material in two ways, increasing the chances of it finding a receptive plant. However, these plants must also develop safeguards against self-pollination, and this can lead to wide variety of gametophytes and a wide diversity among flowers.