Question

A plant pollinated by bats is
(a)Ophrys
(b)Salvia
(c)Kigelia
(d)All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Pollination by animals mostly takes place by insects and is known as entomophily. But sometimes mammals such as bats also perform the function of pollination and it is known as chiropterophily. Examples of plants that are pollinated by bats include mango, banana guava, etc.

Complete answer:
Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen from the anther of the stamen to the stigma of the carpel. This can occur by biotic and abiotic factors. When biotic factors such as animals carry out the process of pollination, it is known as zoophilia. Chiropterophily is a type of zoophily and is seen in the plant Kigelia. Kigelia is a flowering plant also known as the sausage tree and is pollinated by the bat Micropterus.

Additional Information: Ophrys: Pollination in this plant occurs through the process of pseudocopulation. This is because one petal of this plant’s flower looks exactly like a female bee, which results in a male bee trying to copulate with this flower. In doing so, pollen grains stick to the male bee’s body which then gets pollinated when the bee visits the next flower.
Salvia: Pollination in Salvia occurs because of the stamen-lever mechanism. Two stamens are connected in a way that they form upper and lower levers. When an insect lands on the lower lever, this causes the upper lever to come down. Now the pollen from this upper lever gets sprinkled on the body of the insect which will then proceed to the next flower thus ensuring that pollination will take place.
So, the correct option is ‘Kigelia’.

Note: -The fruits of Kigelia are highly poisonous when eaten raw and are thus used to make poisons.
-Anemophily: When pollination occurs through the wind, it is known as anemophily. Example- corn plant.
-Hydrophily: When pollination occurs through water, it is known as hydrophily. It is a rare form of pollination. Example- Vallisneria.