A flower has 12 ovules. Each visit of a bee leaves 5 viable pollen grains on the stigma…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A flower has ovules. Each visit of a bee leaves viable pollen grains on the stigma. Each ovule needs one grain, and no grain is wasted on an ovule that already has one.
- How many visits give every ovule a grain?
- How many grains were left on the stigma in all?
- How many grains were more than necessary?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Autogamy is pollination within one flower. Geitonogamy is pollination between flowers of the same plant. Xenogamy is pollination between flowers of different plants. Cleistogamous flowers never open and always self-pollinate. Wind-pollinated flowers have light pollen, a feathery stigma and one ovule in each ovary. Animal-pollinated flowers are colourful and make nectar.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Given. ovules. grains for each visit.
Plan. Divide, round up, then compare with the ovules.
Step 1. The visits. . Two visits give only grains, so visits are needed.
Step 2. The grains. grains.
Step 3. The surplus. grains.
Answer: visits; grains; extra grains.
Check. Two visits give grains, which is less than .
Watch out. Rounding down would leave two ovules without a grain.
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