ABSTRACT
The pollen is often carried by insects and other animals, but sometimes by wind or water. Self pollination occurs when pollen lands on the stigma of its own flower or another flower on the same plant. Cross pollination occurs when pollen is transferred to the stigma of a flower on another plant. Once the pollen grain reaches the stigma, it produces a pollen tube, which grows down through the style to the ovary. This enables a male pollen cell to fuse with the female cell inside the ovule. This is the process known as fertilisation. In angiosperms, the female reproductive organ is the pistil and is present in middle of the flower. The male gametophyte is the pollen grains as in gymnosperms. Pollinators like insects other animals help in fertilisation of flowering plants. This chapter focuses on sampling techniques, to standardise field methods for collecting pollen, phytolith and macrofloral samples and to provide a standard format for reporting field data.
