Aim:-to study the flowers adapted t

o pollination by different agency s-w

ind, insects, birds
Observations/Comments

Entomophilous or Insect Pollinated Flowers: These flowers

attract insects.
are
brightly coloured with nectar glands

L. Sunflower
The flowers of sunflower show following adaptations for pollination by insects.
1. Given flower is an entomophilous flower so is pollinated by insects.
2. Inflorescence of sunflower is large and showy.
3. Disc florets are brightly yellow coloured.
4. Disc florets attract insects and they visit the flower for nectar collection.
5.
The pollens sticky,
are
arge, heavy and rough, hence stick to the body of the insect. The stigr
is also sticky so that the pollens deposited do not get dispersed.
6. The insect collects the nectar and stamens shower pollens over the back surface of insect. TI
insect has bristles to entangle these pollens. These pollens are transferred to stigma of other flow
when the above loaded insect visits another flower of same species.
II. Salvia flower
1. Given flower is a typical entomophilous flower hence is pollinated by insects.

insects.
2. It is brightly coloured for attracting pollinating
3. It has brightly coloured calyx and corolla with protandrous stamens i.e, stamens mahs
ture irs
much before the maturation of carpels.
4. It has nectar glands to attract insects.
5. It has bilipped corolla with two stamens attached to each petal of corolla.
6. Each stamen has connective which bears
long a fertile anther lobe at the upper end and s
like anther lobe at the lower end.
ste
plate
7. The sterile halves of both the anthers form plate placed above the lower
a
lip at the mouth
the flower
8.
Connective is elongated that the fertile anther lobes become far apart and situated
hood of upper lip of corolla.
so
under
9. When a bee lands on the lower lip and tries to suck nectar, the sterile plate is
pushed and th
fertile anther is brought down and pollens are dusted on the back of bee.
10. In the flowers which have
dispersed their pollen, the stigma hangs down.
11. When this bee loaded with pollens on its back, visits another flower, the
flower touches its back and pollination is affected.
hanging stigma of the

In this way, this flower has specialized floral mechanism which works as lever mechanism tor
pollination by insects.

Anemophilous or Wind Pollinated Flower

1. These wind-pollinated flower are not showy i.e., not
nectar.
brightly coloured and devoid of scent and

2. They produce light weight pollen grains in large numbers.

3. Flowers are usually unisexual.
 -Insect iying
over sunfower

Ray floret
insect involved in
Disc floret POllination

Ray tioret
Involucre
Disc floret

Involucre

Surface view of Sunflower

Longitudinal section of Sunflower

Entomophilous Flowers

Ciosed stigma
Fertie anther lobe

Sterile anther lobe

Nectariterous disc

Stigma receiving pollen grainss

Shedding of from the back of insect
pollen grains
on the back of insect

Various stages in the pollination of Salvia flower by a honey bee

83
 . Maizee
The maize tower shows the following adaptations for polination by wind
. The given plant is maize showing anemophilous adaptations in tlower tor
tor pollt
I t has unisexual tlowers
pollination by wg

3. The male tlowers are bome in teriinal intiorescence wnile the temale tlowers ar
are borne in
intloescence ala
4. Flowers are smal, inconspicuous, not brightly coloured and devoid of nectar
5. Calys and corolla are not differentiated and are known as perianth
6. Both stigma and anthers are exerted (hanging out ot the penanth) to release
pollens b
and capturing of pollens by stigma anthers
7. Pollen grains are released in large number to compensate the loss by wind.

8. Anthers versatile attached

are ie., not tirmly to filament and can easuy be shaken by
nd
9. Stigmas ane
hairy, teathery and branched which is Suitable to catch the wind bome poller
grains
10. P'ollen are very light which help them to flow with the wind.

I1. Pinus
1. Given specimen is Pinus which shows
anemophilus adaptations 1.e. adaptations for
pollinaton
by wind
2. Male components are the torm ot cluster of male cones
present on terminal end of plant
3. Female components are in the torm of temale cones
present in axil position and are not present
in cluster
4. Pollen grains ane
produced and released in
large numbers trom cluster of male cones in torm
of
sulphur rain.
5. Polens ane
light, minute and bear
wings so that they can easily tloat and
get transported bi
wind.
6. Female cones open on
maturity and can easily catch the
floating pollens.
7. Cones ane not brightly coloured and are devoid of scent.

84
 Staminate

Inflorescence

(Male lowers)

N Pollen grains

Leaf
Hanging styles

(Cob)
(Female flower)

Stem

Anemophilous Maize Plant

male cones
Cluster of

of Pinus
Female Cone

2nd year cone

Prothalial cel

Antheridial ce
Needle-lilke leaves

Tube Nucleus

Wind

Long shoot

Cell
Tube
female cone
3rd year
Pinus
view of Pollen grain of
Pinus plant showing Microsopic
male and
female cones

85