Summary of key steps in the flowering plant life cycle using Arabidopsis as an example. Associated epigenetic changes are described in the text. MMC, MiMC, functional megaspore, and microspore are the cells in dark blue. MMC, megaspore mother cell; MiMC, microspore mother cell, EC, egg cell; CC, central cell; VC, vegetative cell; EN, endosperm; EM, embryo; mCHH, CHH methylation; mCG, CG methylation; mCHG, CHG methylation.