* One allele comes from the plant's mother (through the egg cell).
* The other allele comes from the plant's father (through the pollen).
Think of it like this: each parent contributes one "half" of the genetic code for a trait. These "halves" are called alleles. The offspring gets one allele from each parent, combining the genetic information to determine the trait.
In simpler terms:
1. Parents: Each parent plant has two alleles for height.
2. Gametes: During reproduction, the parent plants produce reproductive cells called gametes (eggs and pollen). Each gamete gets only *one* of the two alleles.
3. Offspring: The offspring plant receives one allele from its mother and one allele from its father, resulting in two alleles for height.
This is the basic principle of Mendelian inheritance.
