Agents of Pollination

Agents of Pollination

1. Wind

   • Anemophilous Flowers
     • Small and not showy
     • No nectar or scent
     • Many flowers
     • Stigmas are large, feathery and hanging out
     • Maize, wheat, rice, paddy

2. Water

   • Hydrophilous Flowers
     • Mature male flower submerged in water, gets detached and floats.
       • Water currents bring male flowers in contact with the female flowers for the transfer of pollen grains
     • Produce large quantities of pollen grains
     • Hydrilla and Vallisneria etc- examples

3. Animals

   • Zoophilous flowers
     • Lots of nectar
     • No scent
     • Brightly coloured
     • Rafflesia is pollinated by elephants
     • Birds, snails, bats, humming birds, honey thrushes - main animals

4. Insects

   • Entomophilous Flowers
     • Brightly coloured and showy
     • Large flowers
     • Sweet smell
     • Nectar
     • Sticky pollens and stigme