Pollination and its agents

1. There are 2 types of pollination : a) Self pollination : the same flower

: two flowers of the same plant
b) Cross pollination : two flowers of two different plants
2. Both of these pollination happens with the help of different pollination agents.
3. Land plants are commonly pollinated by animals or insects and by wind.
4. Aquatic plants (plants in water) are pollinated by water itself.
5. Characteristic of plants pollinated by animals or insect :
Insect Pollinated
large, brightly coloured petals - to attract insects

Wind Pollinated
small petals, often brown or dull green - no need
to attract insects

often sweetly scented - to attract insects

no scent - no need to attract insects

usually contain nectar - to attract insects

no nectar - no need to attract insects

moderate quantity of pollen - less wastage than with

pollen produced in great quantities - because

wind pollination

most does not reach another flower

pollen often sticky or spiky - to stick to insects

pollen very light and smooth - so it can be blown

in the wind and stops it clumping together

anthers firm and inside flower - to brush against

anthers loosely attached and dangle out - to

Insect Pollinated

Wind Pollinated

insects

release pollen into the wind

stigma inside the flower - so that the insect brushes

stigma hangs outside the flower - to catch the

against it

drifting pollen

stigma has sticky coating - pollen sticks to it

stigma feathery or net like - to catch the drifting

pollen

Insects or animals pollinated flower

Wind pollinated

flower

Seed dispersal
Seeds are dispersed away from each other and from the parent plant so that there is less competition. The
commonest methods of seed dispersal are:

wind e.g. dandelion, sycamore fruits are light and have extensions which act as parachutes or
wings to catch the wind
animal internal e.g. tomato, plum, raspberry, grape have brightly coloured and succulent fruits
which contain seeds with indigestible coats which allow the seeds to pass through the animal undamaged
animal external e.g. goose grass, burdock, the fruits have hooks which attach them to the fur of
passing animals.
explosive/ self propelled e.g. pea pod. The pod burst open when ripe projecting the seeds away
from the plant.

Asexual reproduction in plants

It is possible for plants to reproduce asexually (i.e. without flowers or fertilisation). Two of the most
important methods of asexual reproduction are:

runners - e.g. strawberry, spider plant

tubers - e.g. potatoes, dahlias

Humans are able to propagate plants by artificial propagation.

Taking cuttings and grafting are the methods of artificial propagation which
you need to know. They are a quick way of propagating large numbers of
identical plants.
Plants which are produced in these ways are genetically identical to each
other and to the parent; a group like this is called a clone.
A clone is a group of cells or organisms which are genetically identical to
each other.
Advantages for the plant of asexual reproduction:

only one parent plant is required

young plants are identical to the parent, so that good features will always be passed on
Advantages for the plant of sexual reproduction:

characteristics are inherited from two parents - this produces variation in the offspring;
this gives a good chance of at least a few surviving diseases, changes of climate, etc.

Growing plants - Test

1. Water and a suitable temperature are needed
for germination. What gas is also needed?

carbon dioxide
E

oxygen
F

nitrogen

4. Which letter points to the stamen?

D

hydrogen
F
2. For questions 2 - 7 identify the named
structures on the above diagram.
G

5. Which letter points to the anther?

D

F
Which letter points to the sepals?
A

6. Which letter points to the stigma?

E

3. Which letter points to the petals?

Ovule

7. Which letter points to the ovary?

Stigma
B

11. Questions 11 - 13 are about methods of seed

dispersal.
Which method uses hooks on the seeds? Burdock
and goose grass are examples.

H
Wind
8. Where is pollen produced?
Anther

Animal (internal)

Stigma

Animal (external)

12. Which method is used by gooseberries?

Ovary
Wind
9. Which part of the flower develops into the
fruit?

Animal (internal)

Ovary

Animal (external)
Ovule
13. Which method of dispersal is used by
dandelions?
Stigma
Wind
10. Where does fertilisation occur?
Ovary

Animal (internal)

Animal (external)