ovule

The tube extends through the style and into the ovary, allowing sperm cells to reach the egg and central cells in an ovule for fertilization.

Normally, a pollen grain that sticks to the stigma of a flower during pollination germinates into a long tube that grows straight and unbranched through the ovary to the ovules, where fertilisation takes place.

This variation is attributed to the process of meiosis, which generates reproductive cells like sperm and eggs in animals or pollen and ovules in plants.

Staedler’s studies suggest that such orchids might produce more ovules—the part of the ovary that becomes the seed—potentially to compensate for reduced pollination rates1.

Staedler’s studies suggest that such orchids might produce more ovules — the part of the ovary that becomes the seed — potentially to compensate for reduced pollination rates1.