Let us trace the life of a pea plant. Step 1: The plant grows roots. Bacteria enter the roots to form nodules. Step 2: The plant produces flowers. These flowers use the butterfly-shaped petal arrangement to attract bees. Step 3: Inside the flower, the pollen travels to the ovary. Step 4: After pollination, the flower petals fall off. The ovary starts growing long and fat. Step 5: This turns into the 'pod' or 'legume'. Step 6: When the pod dries, it pops open along its edges (sutures), dropping the pea seeds onto the ground to grow new plants.