Question

Anemophily is pollination through
(a) Water
(b) Air
(c) Insects
(d) Worms

Answer 1

Hint: Pollination refers to the transfer of pollen grains from the anther of a flower which is the male part to the female stigma. This pollination can occur through various media. Of these, anemophily is the form of pollination that occurs in grasses and sedges.

Complete answer:
Anemophily or wind pollination is the pollination in which the pollen grains are distributed through the wind. Almost all the gymnosperms are anemophilous and so are the grasses and bushes. Other common plants that show anemophily include oaks, sweet chestnuts, and other members of the family Juglandaceae or the Walnut family. All these plants pollinate using the air and its wind currents.
- Plants showing wind pollination have certain features. These plants generally lack scent production, they lack showy flowers, they have reduced nectar production, and they produce an enormous number of pollen grains at one time.
- Pollen grains that are formed in anemophilous plants are light and non- sticky, to transport them easily by air currents. They are generally 20–60 micrometers in diameter which makes it easier to be carried by air.
- Flowers of the anemophilous plants have well- exposed stamens so that the pollen grains are exposed to wind currents and they also possess large and feathery stigma in order to easily trap the airborne pollen grains.
- The flowers which pollinate using insects as pollinators are known as Entomophilous. Those using water are known as hydrophilous, whereas worms do not particularly take part in the act of pollination.
So, the correct answer is, ‘(b) Air’

Note:
- Plants that pollinate through insect pollinators are called Entomophilous. Example- Primula, antirrhinum. Insect pollinated plants generally have bright- colored flowers, sweet scent and produce nectar to attract the insects.
- In some cases, the airborne pollen from anemophilous plants may stick to the insects due to electrostatic force. Example- Ragweed pollen is found on bees in many instances, although ragweed is an anemophilous plant.