Another crisp and frosty morning today, but the petunias are still going strong in sheltered parts of parks and gardens.

Seen here are both male and female reproductive parts, right at the heart of the flower.

The Anthers sitting atop the filaments are the male parts of the flower.

The anthers are coated in pollen, which is released from tiny pollen sacs inside the anther. When an insect reaches in to the flowers’ nectary, pollen grains stick to it’s body and are subsequently transferred to the stigma of other flowers it visits and pollination occurs.

The stigma is coated in a sticky substance designed to catch and trap pollen. The Stigma is held aloft by a style; a tube-like structure, which connects the stigma to the ovary where fertilization takes place. The female parts of the flower are known collectively as pistils.

These delicate parts of the flower are protectively enclosed by rich, red veined petals, which also serve as an attractor to pollinating insects.

Exif Data
Focal Length: 4.1mm
Exposure Time: 1/40 sec
Flash: Off
F-Number: F/3.3
ISO: 80
Metering Mode: Matrix
White Balance: Auto