Question

Pollination in water hyacinth and water lily is brought about by the agency of
A. Birds
B. Bats
C. Water
D. Insects or wind

Answer 1

Hint: Pollination carried out by different agencies depends largely on the type of pollen grains and flowers produced by the plant. Pollen grains produced by water hyacinth are small in size and lighter in weight while the pollen grains produced by water lily are large in size and sticky.

Complete answer:
Option (A) is incorrect. Pollination by birds is carried out in those plants that produce flowers that are large, colorful, and often tubular in structure and secrete a large amount of nectar to attract birds. For example, birds like hummingbirds and sunbirds are pollinators for plants such as orchids and other wildflowers.
Option (B) is incorrect. Pollination by bats is carried out in those plants that produce flowers that bloom at night. Thus, bats are attracted to large, white, or pale-colored flowers that possess a large amount of nectar and are highly fragrant. Plants of guava, banana, mango, cocoa, and fig are pollinated by bats.
Option (C) is incorrect. Water hyacinth and water lily are not pollinated by water because their flowers are not submerged in water and do not release pollen grains in the water. Water pollinated plants include common waterweed, eel-grass.
Option (D) is correct. Pollination by insects is carried out in those plants that produce brightly colored flowers with a pleasant smell and the pollen grains are larger, sticky, and spiny. Plants pollinated by insects include water lily, sunflower.
Pollination by wind is carried out in those plants that produce light-colored flowers without a pleasant smell and the pollen grains are smaller and lighter in weight. Plants pollinated by wind include water hyacinth, grasses, and cereal crops.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Pollination is the process of transfer of pollen grains from one flower’s anther to the stigma of another flower. The pollen grains can be transferred by wind, water, bats, birds, or insects which can also be called anemophily, hydrophily, chiropterophily, ornithophily, or entomophily, respectively.