Maize flower close up. image credit freeimagescollection.com
ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Reproduction in plants: The differences between wind and insect pollinated flowers
- Not all flowers are exactly the same
- Some flowers have adapted to be pollinated by wind
- Others have adapted in a way that allow them to be pollinated by insects
- Examples of wind pollinated flowers include maize and most types of grass plants
- Examples of insect pollinated flowers include bean plants
The structure of wind and insect pollinated flowers compared. Image credit wikispaces.com
| Insect pollinated flowers | Wind pollinated flowers |
|---|---|
| They are usually larger | They are usually smaller in size or elongated, weeping/bent |
| They have large coloured/scented petals | They have reduced sepals and petals |
| They produce sweet nectar | They have no nectar |
| They produce pollen grains that are spiky/sticky | They produce abundant, small/light pollen |
| They have anthers inside their them | Their anthers are exposed to the wind |
| Their stigmas are small and less exposed | Their stigma is exposed and bushy/hairy |
Pollinators
- These are the insects and animals that pollinate insect pollinated flowers
- The list includes animals such as:
- bees-including the entire species of bees such as bumblebees, honey bees etc
- butterflies and moths
- rodents such as shrews and mice
- bats
- monkeys
- birds such as sun-birds, hummingbird, honey eaters which have long beaks that allow them to reach into flowers and suck the nectar out of them
- reptiles and a lot of other animals
To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.
