ADAPTATIONS FOR TYPES OF POLLINATION

Adaptations  to Insect and Wind Pollination

Adaptations of Insect Pollinated Flowers

• Attract Pollinators: brightly coloured petals, petal shape, food reward – pollen and/or nectar, fragrance – volatile chemicals released into the air.
• Pollen Collection by Insect: sticky pollen – stays in contact with anther until insect arrives.
• Pollen Capture By Flower: sticky stigmas so pollen from insect will transfer to them.

Adaptations of Wind Pollinated Flowers

Pollen Collection by Wind: smooth – easily removed from anther, small pollen easily transported by the wind.

Pollen Capture by Flower: stigmas large and feathery – greater surface area to intercept pollen, stigmas outside the flower

Massive Pollen Production: compensate for the excessive losses.

Note:

• An adaptation is a feature (behaviour or modified structure) which fits the organism better to carry out a particular function.
• Ideally name or describe the feature and then give its advantage.

The absence of a feature is not an adaptation.