ANGIOSPERM LIFE CYCLE The life cycle of angiosperms is shown below, and starts with the mature sporophyte plant. Its reproduction occurs inside the flower itself, and after pollination and fertilization, the seeds grow inside the fruit of the plant. Every single flower also contains anthers- male- and ovaries- female. The anther cells go through meiosis, and produce four spore cells (haploid), which each form one pollen grain. As the pollen grain walls get thicker, they prevent the pollen from drying out and overall damage once it is released from the anther.
Then the nucleus of every pollen grain divides once through mitosis, and produce two haploid nuclei. Generally, the male gametophyte, or the pollen grain, while soon stop growing and will be released from the anther to land on a stigma. If it lands on the stigma of the same plant, it is known as self-fertilization. If it lands on the stigma of a different plant, it is known as cross- fertilization.
The female gametophyte grows and develops inside of the ovules, which are inside of the ovary. A female diploid cell undergoes meiosis to produce four cells (haploid), but only one is used- the other three disintegrate. The one cell left goes through mitosis, produces eight nuclei, and forms a structure called an embryo sac, which are contained in the ovule. One of these eight nuclei -existing at the base of the gametophyte- becomes the egg nucleus, or the female gamete. Once fertilization occurs, the egg cell forms a zygote and develops into a brand new sporophyte plant. Afterwards, the embryo cells inside the ovary differentiate- or specialize- and grow into a ball of cells, forming an embryonic sporophyte. This is known as the seedling, and the whole cycle starts over again.
EXAMPLES OF ANGIOSPERMS Angiosperms basically describes all flowering and/or fruiting plants, but a few are shown below: dandelions(left), tomatoes(middle), and corn(right).