False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the reproductive structures of a flower of the chickweed, Stellaria media. The bulbous carpel, with the s

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False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the reproductive structures of a flower of the chickweed, Stellaria media. The bulbous carpel, with the short-stalked female stigmas emerging from it, is at lower centre. Two of the long- stalked male anthers have closed in to contact the stigmas; a third remains separate at right, its tip covered with pollen. The droplets in the bottom right & left corners (blue) are nectar to attract pollinating insects. Chickweed is also self-pollinating. The round pollen grains on the stigmas show that this flower has been pollinated, probably by the anthers in contact with the stigmas. Magnification: x12 at size.

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Size: 4040px × 4993px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anther, botany, carpel, chickweed, false-coloured, flower, flowering, media, nature, nectar, part, parts, plant, plants, pollination, reproduction, reproductive, stellaria, stigma, style