Question

Versatile anther is an adaptation for
a. Ornithophily
b. Entomophily
c. Anemophily
d. Chiropterophily

Answer 1

Hint: Anthers are the part of stigma of the male flowers which contain pollen grains. Anthers consist of two compartments called thecae with each compartment containing two microsporangia. Microsporangia are the sites which produce pollen grains, which are male gametophytes of seed plants.

Complete answer:
Bird pollination is known as ornithophily and refers to pollination of flowering plants by the birds. The plants associated with ornithophily typically have colorful flowers with long tubular structure containing nectar and orientation of stamen and stigma which result in contact with the pollinator.

Entomophily is pollination in which pollen of the plants are distributed to other plants with the help of the insects. Plants have bright colors which attract the insects and reward the insects with pollen and nectar.

Anemophily is pollination in which the pollen grains from the stigma of the male plant are distributed by the wind. They have versatile anther is when the attachment of another is near its middle which helps the anther to swing freely. All gymnosperms and grasses are anemophily and have versatile anthers. When wind currents pass by the anther it takes pollen grains along with it along the direction of the current which helps in pollination.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Note: The pollen grains of the plants that pollinate through wind are light in weight so that the wind can carry them. They also have hair like structures which help them to stick with the female flower for the process of pollination.