Question

Why are some flowers brightly coloured?

Answer 1

Hint: A flower is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants. The main function of a flower is to facilitate reproduction. It provides a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs. A flower is made up of two parts namely the vegetative part and the reproductive part. The vegetative part contains calyx and corolla. The reproductive part contains androecium and gynoecium.

Complete answer:
The primary function of the flower is reproduction. The flower contains androecium which is the male part of the flower and gynoecium which is the female part of the flower. The androecium is made up of anther and filament. It produces pollen grains. The gynoecium is made up of style, stigma and ovary. It produces ovules. The pollen grains fuse with the ovules to produce new offspring. This process is called pollination. Pollination can happen in the same flower or between two different flowers.
Pollination in plants is mediated by various biotic and abiotic pollinators. Around eighty percent of flowering plants make use of biotic pollinators like animals, birds, insects, bats, bees etc. Hence, to attract these pollinators, the plants produce bright coloured flowers.
The bright colour of the flowers enhances their visual effect and attracts the biotic pollinator to engage with them. When the pollinator engages with the flowers, the pollen grains will stick to its body and when it moves from one flower to another, it facilitates cross pollination.

Note:
Different pollinators are attracted to different colours. For example, bees are attracted to bright blue, purple and violet. Hummingbirds are attracted by red, pink and fuchsia flowers. Butterflies like bright colours like yellow, orange, red and pink. Flowers that bloom at night make use of pollinators that are active at night. Since colours are not visible, these flowers use fragrance to attract the pollinators.