False-colour scanning electron micrograph of pollen grains of the chickweed flower Stellaria media (a self pollinating plant). In self pollination, the anatomy of the plant is such that pollen is past directly from the anthers (male) to the stigmas (female) without any intermediaries, either insect or wind. Once on the stigma the pollen grain swells, pushing out the concave surfaces seen here & grows a pollen tube. The tube grows down the style & into the ovaries at the base of the capsule, where it releases the sperm (gametes) for fertilization with the eggs (ova). The result is the production of seeds. Magnification: x1330 at 6x4.5cm size.