Chicory pollen. Coloured scanning electron micro- graph (SEM) of pollen grains of chicory, Cichorium intybus. The outer wall (exine) of the pollen grains has numerous sharp spines which enables the pollen to attach to the body appendages of insects. The pollen is thus dispersed to other flowers which the insect visits. When the pollen, containing the male gametes, is transferred to the stigma of another flower, it germinates. A pollen tube grows out from the grain, down through the stigma, to the ovary. The male nuclei pass down the tube, fertilize the ovules and a seed is formed. Magnification: x1320 at 5x7cm size. Magnification: x2300 at 4x5inches size.