What is pollen grain?

What is pollen grain?

A pollen grain is a microscopic structure that contains male reproductive cells. It is produced by the male part of a flower, called the stamen. Pollen grains are typically round or oval in shape, and they are covered in a hard outer layer called the exine. The exine protects the pollen grain from the environment and helps it to travel long distances.

When a pollen grain lands on a compatible pistil, it germinates and grows a pollen tube. The pollen tube travels down the pistil and into the ovary, where it fertilizes the ovule. Fertilization results in the development of a seed.

Pollen grains are essential for the reproduction of flowering plants. They are also an important source of food for many insects, such as bees and butterflies.