While growing at a slower rate than in its first week, the bean plant continues to thrive. Because this plant got a late start at things, it has not produced flowers or fruit yet. As a mature plant, it is now in its sporophyte generation, illustrated in the diagram below. If it ends up flowering, meiosis will produce microspores and megaspores, and male and female gametophytes, after which it will be able to reproduce (figure 2). I’m hoping that eventually I will be able to move the plant outside and see it produce beans!
I’ve given the bean a knitting needle for support. It’s not an ideal length, but hopefully it will give it a little something to climb on.
