• Wisconsin Fast Plants have been bred for the last 30 years at the University of Wisconsin, Madison campus, in the department of plant pathology. They are members of the Crucifer family and carry the scientific name of Brassica rapa. Fast Plants are often used for classroom activities, since the growing cycle is approximately 40 days. Fast Plants have most of the same parts as other flowers, although they may be arranged differently.
  
  

Stamen

• The stamen, which is a male part of the Fast Plant, contains the anther and filament. The anther is a small part that is responsible for pollen production in plants and flowers. The anther is positioned on top of the filament, which resembles a thin hair. The quantity of stamen present in a flower is directly related to the number of petals on the flower. If there are four petals, there will be four stamens.
  
  

Petals

• The petals are the brightly colored portion of the Fast Plant. They are the most visible part of the plant and their main job is to attract insects so that the pollination process can begin.
  
  

Sepals

• The sepals are the outermost part of the Fast Plan and also the most protective part. When the Fast Plant petals are in bud stage, the green leaves tightly cover the bud and protect it while it develops. As the Fast Plant bud grows, the sepals loosen and fold back to allow the flower to bloom.
  
  

Pistil

• The pistil is the female part of the Fast Plant and it is located in the center of the flower. The pistil contains the stigma, style and carpel. The stigma is the part of the flower that is visible when you look a the center. It resembles a sticky ball and it is also the part of the flower that not only gets the pollen, but is where the pollen germinates. The stigma sits on top of the style, which looks like a long stalk. Underneath the stigma and the style are the carpels, also called the ovaries. Fast Plants differ from some plants and flowers because there are two carpels bonded together. It is in these carpels that the ovules reside, and once fertilized, become seeds.
  
  

Nectaries

• The nectaries are located at the bottom of the pistil, and they produce a very sugary solution or nectar. This nectar, at times, can work its way up to the petals. The purpose of the nectar is to attract pollinators to the Fast Plan and encourage pollination.