Question

Vallisneria spiralis is a classical example of
A. Epihydrophily
B. Hypohydrophily
C. Anemophily
D. Chiropterophily

Answer 1

Hint: Vallisneria spiralis, also known as eel grass or tape grass is an aquarium plant that requires plentiful nutrition and sufficient light to grow properly. It is easily found in the tropical and subtropical regions throughout the world.

Complete answer:
- Pollination is the sexual relation between the male part of a plant and the female part, thus leading to fertilisation. Epihydrophily is a pseudo hydrophily that takes place on the surface of water. Vallisneria pollen grains are released on the water’s surface, which are carried away by water currents, thus leading them to female flowers.

Additional Information:
- Pollination under water is termed as hypohydrophily. Let’s take an example of Ceratophyllum. In this, male flowers break and reach the bottom of the surface of water. The pollen grains gradually sink and reach the female flowers, thus causing pollination under water.
- Anemophily is a type of pollination where pollen grains are distributed by wind. Most of the gymnosperms are anemophilous. For example, grasses, sedges and rushes.
- When pollination occurs with the help of bats, the pollination is then termed as Chiropterophily. This type of pollination is very common in tropical and desert regions where there are many night blooming plants. Similar to the bees and birds pollination, nectar consuming bats use different methods to search and harvest the sweet liquid.
Hence, option A: Epihydrophily is the correct answer.

Note: Hydrophily is a unique form of pollination where pollen grains are spread by the water currents in rivers or streams. Hydrophilous species can be divided into two categories. The first one consists of plants which distribute the pollen on the surface of water and the second one consists of plants which distribute the pollen under the surface of water.