STC Plant Growth and
Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Kennewick School District
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Materials list
For each student:
 Student notebook
 1 flowering plant
For every two students:
 1 hand lens
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Observe your plants with a hand
lens. If your plant is not
flowering yet, share a flowering
plant with another student.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Use your hand lens to see the
following parts of the Brassica
flower:
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Four petals—yellow and rounded
Six anthers—two short and four tall
Yellow pollen
Pistil—in the center
Stigma—sticky top of the pistil
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Record your observations of the flower
in your notebook (right-hand side).
Draw the flower and label the parts.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
We will continue to observe the
flowers closely over the next
week. You will notice the
following changes:

Petals will fade and fall.
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After pollination, the pistil will enlarge and
become the seed pod.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Reading Selection: The Crucifer Family
plants their family name.
Here is a hint. The shape
of their flowers is always
like those pictured here.
Did you figure out how
the crucifer family got its
name? The reason is that
the crucifer flower
always has four petals
arranged in a cross.
Scientists group all these
flowers into the crucifer
family.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Crucifers We Eat
The crucifers are an important food crop in many parts of the
world. Which ones have you tasted?
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Cabbage
Turnip
Collard
Watercress
Kohlrabi
Choy sum
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Rutabaga
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Radish
Kale
Horseradish
Pak choi
(Chinese mustard)
Brussels sprouts
Mustard greens
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Some crucifer seeds are crushed for their oil.
Others, like turnips, kale and rutabagas, are
good for sheep and cattle as well as for
people. Still others, like alyssum and
candytuft, are known for their beautiful
flowers. There is even a branch of “bad guys”
in the family, some pesky weeds!
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Which crucifers have you tasted?
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Be sure to watch your plants
closely for changes in the flowers
over the next week.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Update your Table of Contents
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
anther
The part of the stamen that produces
pollen.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
petal
A brightly colored part of a flower.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
pistil
The female part of the flower that
consists of the stigma, style, and
ovary.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
pollen
A fine, usually yellow, dust that is
produced in the anther and is used to
fertilize the seeds of the plant.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
stamen
The male part of a flower that
consists of the anther and filament.
STC Plant Growth and Development
Lesson 10: Looking at Flowers
Add this vocabulary word and its meaning to your glossary.
stigma
The sticky tip of a flower pistil on
which pollen is deposited.