Question

Insect-pollinated flowers usually possess?
A. Sticky pollens with a rough surface
B. Large quantities of pollen
C. Brightly colored pollens
D. Dry pollens with a smooth surface

Answer 1

Hint: The pollens of Insect-pollinated flowers are sticky and heavy with a rough surface that allows them to stick to insects easily. These Flowers also have sweet nectar that attracts insects. So that insects can wander from flower to flower to pollinate the flowers. The pollen grains are also in small quantities, this is because insects will enter another flower, and the pollen grains would have a higher chance of landing on the stigma.

Complete answer: Characteristic features of insect-pollinated flowers are-
1) Flowers are brightly colored, scented, and secrete nectar.
2) Pollen grains are larger, sticky, and spiny.
3) Pollen grains are fewer in number as they are transported mechanically by insects.
4) The stigma of flowers is small and deep within the corolla.
5) The stamens are within the corolla tube.

Option (A) is a Sticky pollen with a rough surface. It is correct because insect-pollinated flowers have pollen grains that are large, sticky, spiny, and fewer in number. It helps pollen to stick to an insect's body.

Option (B) Large quantities of pollens is not right because a fewer number of pollens are present in insect-pollinated flowers.

Option (C) Brightly colored pollen.
Insect-pollinated flowers have brightly colored petals but not pollen.

Option (D) is Dry pollens with a smooth surface which is not true because pollens are rough with spikes. So that they can attach to insects.

So, the correct option is (A) - Sticky pollen with a rough surface.

Note: As the name implies, insect-pollinated flowers are the flowers that are pollinated by Insects. This happens typically when insects move from plant to plant searching for food. Pollen grains stick to the insect's body when they land on a flower to feed. And when the insect moves to another flower of the same species, these pollen grains get transferred to another flower's stigma for pollination. Some Examples of insect-pollinated flowers are china rose, sunflower, salvia, pea, etc.