Question

Which one bears coma for anemochory?
A. Cinchona
B. Calotropis
C. Alstonia
D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Hint: Crop dispersal syndromes are similar to pollination syndromes, which are characterised as floral features that, as pollinators, attract species. Parallels are known because they are also plant-animal encounters that improve a plant's reproductive performance.

Complete Answer:
- In order to maximise the plant's reproductive success, seeds scatter. The further removed from a parent a seed is, the higher its chances of growth and germination.
- Therefore, in order to improve the reproductive success of the plant, a plant can choose such characteristics to improve the dispersal by a vector (i.e. bird).
- Seed dispersal by wind is known as anemochory. Wing structures and brown or dull coloured seeds without more incentives are typical dispersal syndromes of anemochoria. To reflect the seed dispersal syndromes and their behaviour, Van der Pijl appointed seeds for anemochory flyers, rollers, or throwers.
- Flyers are commonly known as dust diaspores, plumed or winged balloons. Dust diaspores are tiny flat seed structures that tend to be the transition to wing diaspores, bubbles are inflated seed features, and hairs or elongation seed features are plumes. Wings also evolved to maximise the distance of dispersal to facilitate gene transfer.

Note: Anemochory is often observed in open areas, canopy trees, and deciduous forests in the dry season. For optimal high long-distance dispersal, wind dispersers mature in the dry season to maximise germination success.