BroadBean

=__**Broad bean: By: Jasha Trompf,**__= =__**Introduction**__= =Broadbean (Vicia Faba) is native to north Africa and Southwest Asia. It produces an edible pea that is consumed by people in these parts of the world. A single broadbean plant has no branches, but will have approximately 15-20 flowers. After pollination the ovules within the ovaries of the carpal mature into peas. The peas are edible.=

Figure 1: shows the size of the broadbean peas relative to a coin. The peas are edible =__**Pollination and fertilisation**__= =The broadbean plant could become pollinated by "selfing" (pollinate self on the same plant). Alternatively, the broadbean plant may also be pollinated by "outcrossing" where pollen is transferred between plants.= Figure 2: Shows the reproductive orgnas of the broadbean flower: stamens and carpal (Left). Shows the the structure of a broadbean flower petal and the sepal (Right) =This plant uses insects as a vector for pollination. Pollen is produced at the Anther and is carried to separate plants (or flowers on the same plant) where it comes in contact with the stigma. The pollen tube then extends down the style to reach the ovules within the ovary for fertilization=

Figure 3: shows a typical method of pollination used by broadbean (using a bee as a vector to __#|transfer__ pollen to neighboring plants) = = =__**Floral morphology and variability**__=

Table: Sizes of different structures on a broadbean flower

 * ====structure==== || ====size====

(mm)
|| ====size====

(mm)
|| ====size====

(mm)
|| ====Average====

(mm)
|| ====SD==== || == Figure 4: Flower at the apex of broadbean (left). With flower at the base of the plant (right) =**The flower morphology varies along the length of the plant. At the tips the petal has its lateral lobes folded in to the centers protecting the reproductive organs. Towards the base of the plant however, the petals have folded open into three large lobes that presumably acts as platform for insects. The petal is relatively wide as its lateral lobes fan out quite extensively. As mentioned above the lateral lobes are folded in at the apex of the plant and this has a function of protecting the developing reproductive structures.**=
 * ====stamen==== || ====24==== || ====27==== || ====26==== || ====25.7==== || ====1.5==== ||
 * ====carpel==== || ====28==== || ====32==== || ====30==== || ====30.0==== || ====2.0==== ||
 * ====petal width (upper )==== || ====42==== || ====40==== || ====45==== || ====42.3==== || ====2.5==== ||
 * ====petal length (upper)==== || ====27==== || ====28==== || ====30==== || ====28.3==== || ====1.5==== ||
 * ====petal width (lower)==== || ====20==== || ====17==== || ====18==== || ====18.3==== || ====1.5==== ||
 * ====petal length (lower)==== || ====14==== || ====12==== || ====11==== || ====12.3==== || ====1.5==== ||

=__**Pollen morphology**__= Figure 5: pollen at 40X magnification (Left), 10X (Middle) and 4X right. The pollen was dissolved in a red gel =**These pictures show the pollen produced at one anther. A single flower will produce thousands of pollen grains. There are approximately 15-20 flowers on a single broadbean plant**= =__**Nectar characterization**__= =**As the plant was shelved on the side bench we presume that the nectar dried up and therefore could no be measured. However, it has been reported that broadbean does produce nectar but in relatively low amounts.**= = =