Question

a) Describe the mechanism of pollination in salvia.
b) Is cheetah extinct or endangered in India. Why?

Answer 1

a) Salvia is a genus of plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae.

• They are characterized by a staminal lever mechanism which aids in the transfer of pollen grains in them.
• Salvia is excellent example of insect pollination is which pollination occurs by lever or turn pipe mechanism.
• In these plants, the monothetic stamens are modified into levers.
• The thin ligament between the connective and the filament forms a joint that is then divided into upper and lower arms.
• This structure enables the stamen to transfer pollen.
• A pollinating agent pushes back the lower lever arms while collecting nectar to allow the pollen-sacs at the end of the upper lever arms to drop the pollen onto the pollinator's head or back.
• This pollinator transfers the pollen to the plant stigma as it travels from one flower to the other.
  

b) The Asiatic cheetah in India has become extinct in India.

• It has become extinct from India due to unnatural causes.