Mention one characteristics of plant adapted for wind pollination, insect pollination, and bird pollination. Explain how these characteristics assists pollinating agents.
Mention one characteristics of plant adapted for wind pollination, insect pollination, and bird pollination. Explain how these characteristics assists pollinating agents.
Characteristics of insect-pollinated flowers:
1.Flowers are usually large, brightly-colored and scented to attract insects. If the flowers are small they may group together to form conspicuous inflorescence.
2.Nectar is often present to attract insects.
3.Pollen is fairly abundant. Pollen grains are large sticky and heavy, usually with rough surfaces so that they can readily cling onto the insects bodies.
4.Stamens may not be pendulous.
5.Stigmas are usually not feathery and do no protrude. They are sticky so that pollen grains settling on them are not easily displaced.
6.Nectar guides may be seen on the petals.
wind-pollinated flowers:
1.Flowers are usually small, dull-colored and scentless and thus not attractive to insects.
2.Nectar is usually absent.
3.Pollen is abundant as wastage is higher. Pollen grains are small, dry, smooth and light so that they are buoyant and easily blown about by air currents.
4.Stamens usually have long, slender filaments that sway in the slightest wind and pollen grains are hence shaken out from the anthers.
5.Stigmas protrude and are large and feathery so that they provide a large surface area to catch pollen floating in the air.
In case of bird pollinating flowers- the flowers mimic like female partners of that bird species. So, the male birds get attracted towards these females mimicking flowers and when they land on them the pollens get attached on their beaks. These pollens are then delivered to other flowers when the same bird land on other flower.
Characteristics of insect-pollinated flowers:
1.Flowers are usually large, brightly-colored and scented to attract insects. If the flowers are small they may group together to form conspicuous inflorescence.
2.Nectar is often present to attract insects.
3.Pollen is fairly abundant. Pollen grains are large sticky and heavy, usually with rough surfaces so that they can readily cling onto the insects bodies.
4.Stamens may not be pendulous.
5.Stigmas are usually not feathery and do no protrude. They are sticky so that pollen grains settling on them are not easily displaced.
6.Nectar guides may be seen on the petals.
wind-pollinated flowers:
1.Flowers are usually small, dull-colored and scentless and thus not attractive to insects.
2.Nectar is usually absent.
3.Pollen is abundant as wastage is higher. Pollen grains are small, dry, smooth and light so that they are buoyant and easily blown about by air currents.
4.Stamens usually have long, slender filaments that sway in the slightest wind and pollen grains are hence shaken out from the anthers.
5.Stigmas protrude and are large and feathery so that they provide a large surface area to catch pollen floating in the air.
In case of bird pollinating flowers- the flowers mimic like female partners of that bird species. So, the male birds get attracted towards these females mimicking flowers and when they land on them the pollens get attached on their beaks. These pollens are then delivered to other flowers when the same bird land on other flower.
