Question

Study the three flowers (a), (b) and (c) in the following figures. Then answer the questions (by writing the letter).

Which is the only self pollinating flower?

Answer 1

a. Bisexual flower: In this flower shown above, both the male and female reproductive part is present.

• These flowers having both sexual organs do not need any other flowers for successful pollination.
• These flowers are mostly closed type ensuring self-pollination.

b. Unisexual flower/ Female flower: In this flower shown above, only the female reproductive organ is present.

• These flowers need a male counterpart from the same plant to ensure pollination.
• There are chances of cross-pollination such flowers.

c. Unisexual/ male flower: In this flower given above only the male reproductive part stamen is present.

• These flowers produce only pollens and require a female flower to deposit these pollens for successful pollination.

Final answer:

1. The flower (a) is the only self-pollinating flower.
2. The self-pollinating flowers are those in which the pollen grains of one flower get attached to the stigma of a flower of the same plant.
3. In this scenario, the bisexual flower can only self pollinate as it has both male and female sex organs.