Pollination by Water

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Pollination by Water – Methods
• Surface Pollination
• Submerged Pollination

Pollination by water is called Hydrophily

Of all the other forms of pollination, pollination by water is the most uncommon. In this form, the pollen is distributed through rivers or streams, passively flowing its way to other plants. Moreover, there are two possible methods where pollination occurs in water:

The two methods are:

• Surface Pollination
• Submerged Pollination

As the name implies, the pollens float on the surface of the water and reach the stigmas of the female flowers. Water Thyme (Hydrilla), Ditch Grasses (Ruppia), Waterweeds (Elodea) and Water Starwort (Callitriche) are notable examples where this method of pollination is observed. In plants such as Eelgrass (Vallisneria), the male flowers detach from the plant and float on the surface of the water, passively flowing and coming in contact with the female flower’s stigmas.

Submerged pollination occurs if the pollen grain is heavier than water – where it sinks down and is caught by the stigmas of female flowers. This form of pollination is seen in plants like the water-nymphs (Najas).

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