Question

Hydrophily occurs in

• A. Nymphaea
• B. Nelumbo
• C. Eichhornia crassipes
• D. Vallisneria/ Zostera

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

Vallisneria/ Zostera

Hydrophily is pollination of flowers by means of water. Example Zostera.

When pollination occurs by water in the plants floating on the surface of the water, it is called Ephydrophily. Example Vallisneria.

In Zostera, long needle-shaped pollens are produced which float in the water. The female flower produces long structure from the stylar stigmatic region which extends to the water surface and coils around the pollen grain and pulls it underwater and thus, pollination occurs.

In Vallisneria, the male flowers detach on maturity and float on the surface of the water while the female flowers grow under water and they come up to the surface with the help of their thin long stalk. As the stalk grows further, the flowers which were vertical become horizontal and thus, a cup-like depression is formed around the female flower. The male flowers which are floating on the surface of the water, fall into the cup and due to jerk, the anthers dehisce and pollens are transferred to the stigma and thus, pollination occurs on the surface of the water.

Hence, hydrophily occurs in Vallisneria and Zostera.

So, the correct answer is D.