Flowers

Flowers, like seeds, are a major step in the evolutionary development of plants. Flowers are in essence a way in which plants trick animals into assisting them to reproduce. The main function of a flower is to attract a pollinator, usually an insect, to visit the flower and become covered with pollen. When the pollinator visits the next flower of the same species, then some of the pollen will be transferred to the plant, allowing for fertilization of the egg.

The flowers use many means to attract their pollinators. One of the most familiar is smell and nectar. Most insects are very sensitive to smells and can detect odors from long distances. Plants produce sweet nectar, which can serve as a food source for many insects, and produce a strong, sweet odor. The insects detect the odor and visit the plant. As they are drinking the nectar, pollen covers the insect, which is deposited onto the next flower. Plants also use bird and bats as pollinators. Some have even reverted back to using wind as a carrier for pollen, similar to gymnosperms.

This method of using animals to facilitate their reproduction has made angiosperms the most abundant and diverse group of plants on Earth and one of the most abundant and diverse groups of all organisms.