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What is pollination? – a resource for kids

Pollination is a very important part of the life cycle of plants. Insects, birds, bats and the wind take pollen between flowering plants, which means the plants can make seeds and reproduce (have babies!). The video and pictures below show how.

Pollinator video

Pollination: how insects help plants to make seeds

Insects take pollen between flowering plants of the same type. The pollen fertilises egg cells to make seeds.

1.

Illustration of bee about to land on flower

The bee says:

“The bright colours and smell of that flower tell me that it's got the sugary nectar I love to eat and the pollen I feed to my kids. Yum!”

2.

Illustration of bee on a flower

The bee says:

“Om nom nom. While eating at this flower some of the pollen has rubbed off on me by accident.”

Illustrated diagram of how a flower is fertilised

The bee flies to a new flower. At this other flower the pollen from the first flower will fertilise the egg cells to make seeds.

A: Pollen enters the flower here

B: Egg cells are fertilised by pollen and grow into seeds

Illustrations of pollinators

Other types of pollination

It's not only insects that pollinate plants. Birds, bats and the wind can also take pollen between plants. 

Pollination is important for humans

No pollination = not as many plants to use as food, clothing, shelter and other things!

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