Pollination Methods
Biology: Edexcel IGCSE, topic 4.1.8
Pollination Methods
Different plants rely on different ways to transfer pollen between flowers of plants:
Insect-pollinated flowers
- Some plants rely on insects to carry pollen between flowers.
- These plants often have large, brightly-coloured petals and also produce sweet nectar to attract insects.
- Insects brush past the anthers as they try to get to the nectar, and become covered in pollen, which is transferred to the next flower the insect visits.
Insect-spread pollen
- This pollen is barbed so that it attaches easily to insects that brush past the anthers.
Wind-pollinated flowers
- These flowers rely on gusts of wind to carry their pollen to other flowers.
- They do not produce nectar and don't have large or brightly-coloured petals.
- The stigmas are large and extend out of the flower so they can catch any passing pollen.
Wind-spread pollen
- These pollen grains are smooth and lightweight so that they can be carried by the wind over long distances.
- Some may also have wing-like structures so that they are picked up by the wind easily.
Test yourself on Pollination Methods
Which of these is not a feature of wind-spread pollen?
Which of the following is most likely to be barbed?