Exploring an Important Player of Angiosperm Pollination

Feb 22, 2018 • 9:54 PM UTC

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jiwoolee

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Stumbling into my dorm at midnight after a long day of classes and meetings, I was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a new bouquet of flowers on the table. Noticing that the bouquet of flowers included some pink lilies, I decided to take a sample of pollen and observe it under my Foldscope.

Using the Foldscope, I observed the pollen, and noticed that the pollen was composed of tiny, distinct pods. I also observed several smaller circles within each pod, which were likely components to help with pollination, as well as a layer surrounding the entire pod, which was likely a protective covering.

Upon further reading, I learned that every pollen grain contains a male gamete that can fertilize a female ovule. Unfortunately for these pollen grains, they will never go on to fertilize a female ovule. Rather, they have been immortalized in a slide, sitting next to the very bouquet of flowers that they came from.

Exploring an Important Player of Angiosperm Pollination

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