Study of flowers adapted to pollination

by different agencies – 21/4/2022

• Introduction:
Pollination is the transference of pollen grains
from the anther to the stigma. The agencies
which transfer pollen grains of one flower to
the stigma of different flowers are wind
( Anemophily ), water( hydrophily ), insects
( Entomophily ), birds ( Ornithophily ).
 Pollination by wind: Anemophily
• Flowers are small, inconspicuous, never coloured or
showy and unisexual in some plants for example maize.
• Flowers do not emit any smell.
• Flowers do not produce any nectar.
• Flowers may be borne on long axis ( grasses ) much
above the leaves.
• Flowers have well exposed stamens.
• Anthers produce large quantities of pollen grains as a
considerable quantity may be wasted during wind
pollination.
 Pollination by wind: Anemophily
• Pollen grains are light, smooth, dry and
non-sticky to avoid clumping. In Pine, pollens
possess wings so that they are easily
distributed by the wind.
• Stigmas are comparatively large and feathery
as in grasses.
• Examples: grasses, bamboos, cereals, millets,
pines, palms.
Pollination by insects: Entomophily
• Pollen grains have a sticky surface due to pollen
kit which is the outermost yellow, oily, thick
viscous, sticky coating of pollen grains.
• Flowers are brightly coloured and large. When
the flowers not themselves conspicuous, they
aggregate to form inflorescence ( Jatropha,
Bryophyllum ) or their other parts may be
coloured and showy to attract insects for
example in Bougainvillea bracts are coloured and
make flowers attractive.
Pollination by insects: Entomophily
• Flowers secrete nectar. Visiting insects are fed
by nectar e.g. Jasmine. Bees collect the nectar
and bring about pollination.
• At night, flowers emit a sweet scent to attract
insects e.g. Cestrum ( queen of the night )
 Pollination by water: hydrophily
• In Zostera flowers are pollinated inside the
water ( hypohydrophily )
• In Vallisneria flowers are pollinated over the
surface of water ( epihydrophily ). Upon
maturity, male flowers get detached from the
parent plant and float on the surface of water.
The female flowers reach the water surface.
Floating male flowers come close to the
female flowers and the pollination takes place.