Male genetic material passes down the pollen tube and fertilizes an ovule. Ovules become seeds and the surrounding ovary develops into the fruit. Male flowers generally appear on the plants several days before female flowers. The female flower is easily recognized by the presence of a miniature fruit below the flower petals. Pollen from the male flower must be transferred to the female flower for pollination and subsequent fruit development to occur.
Many insects visit flowers to collect pollen and nectar as food.
As they forage, these insects spread pollen grains among flowers, accomplishing pollination. Many flowers offer sugary liquid nectar as an added enticement for these pollinating insects. Among insect pollinators, bees are especially efficient because they eat pollen and nectar exclusively, visit many flowers of the same species during a single trip, and have hairy bodies that easily pick up pollen grains. Cucurbit flowers open shortly after sunrise and remain open until late afternoon or early evening. Accordingly, each flower is open for only a few hours.