Name: Pseudocopulation in Orchids
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 59 s
Description: Pollination by such a pseudocopulation mechanism in the orchid attracts insect pollinators by modifying their labellum to roughly resemble a bee or a wasp.

Question

What modifications do plant have for :

(a) Hydrophily

(b) entomophily

(c) anemophily

(d) cross-pollination

Accepted Answer

Different plants have evolved various modifications to facilitate different modes of pollination. Here are the modifications commonly observed in plants for the following pollination methods:

(a) Hydrophily: Hydrophily refers to the pollination that occurs through water. Aquatic plants have adapted to this mode of pollination with the following modifications:

Large and feathery stigmas: Plants that are hydrophilous have elongated and feathery stigmas that can easily trap pollen grains from the water.

Mucilaginous pollen: Pollen grains of hydrophilous plants are often protected from wetting by a mucilaginous covering as well as pollen grains are ribbon like in structure.

(b) Entomophily: Entomophily refers to pollination by insects. Plants that rely on insect pollinators exhibit the following adaptations:

Showy and colorful flowers: Many entomophilous plants have bright and attractive flowers to attract insects.

Nectar production: Insects are often attracted to nectar as a food source. Entomophilous plants produce nectar in specialized structures called nectaries to entice insects.

Sticky or feathery pollen: Pollen grains of entomophilous plants often have spines, hooks, or a sticky surface to adhere to the bodies of insects for efficient transfer between flowers.

(c) Anemophily: Anemophily refers to pollination by wind. Plants adapted for anemophily exhibit the following characteristics:

Small, inconspicuous flowers: Anemophilous plants usually have small and inconspicuous flowers that do not require the attraction of animal pollinators.

Large, feathery stigmas: The female flowers of anemophilous plants have large and often feathery stigmas to catch airborne pollen grains.

Abundant and lightweight pollen: Anemophilous plants produce a large amount of lightweight pollen that can be easily carried by the wind. The pollen grains are often smooth and non-sticky.

(d) Cross-pollination: Cross-pollination refers to the transfer of pollen from the anther of one plant to the stigma of another plant. Many plants have adaptations to encourage cross-pollination, which promotes genetic diversity. Some common modifications include:

Dichogamy: This refers to the temporal separation of male and female reproductive structures within the same flower or plant. For example, a plant may have the stigma become receptive before the anthers release pollen or vice versa, reducing the chances of self-pollination.

Self-incompatibility: Some plants possess mechanisms to prevent self-fertilization by rejecting or inhibiting the pollen from the same plant.

What modifications do plant have for :

(a) Hydrophily

(b) entomophily

(c) anemophily

(d) cross-pollination

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