Botany Flashcards
Pollination
the transfer of pollen from an anther to the stigma of the same or the stigma of a different flower of the same species.
Flowers pollinated by birds usually have the following characteristics:
Produce large quantities of dilute nectar.
Little or no scent because birds have a poor sense of smell.
Generally sturdy, the flowers are bigger than most insect-pollinated flowers.
Stamens and stigmas protrude beyond the petals.
Open during the day.
Often red because red can be seen by birds in contrast to insects.
Flowers that are pollinated by insects often have the following characteristics:
Large, conspicuous petals in bright colours, usually not red. Some insects cannot tell the difference between red and black
Sweet scent to attract moths and butterflies
A reward for the pollinator such as nectar and/or pollen.
Anthers and stigmas are inside the flower so that the insect must brush past them to get to the nectar thus transferring the pollen
Sticky or spiky pollen grains stick to the insect’s body.
Large quantities of pollen are produced because some will be eaten by the visiting insect.
Flowers either open during the day for insects that are active during the day such as bees or at night for insects active at night e.g. moths.
Flowers usually have UV markings visible only to insects.
Wind pollinated flowers often have the following characteristics:
ave the following characteristics:
They do not have a scent or nectar.
Flowers are often small and either green or brown in colour because they do not need to attract pollinators.
The male flowers have large anthers
The flowers are borne on flexible stalks that move in the wind.
They are usually very small
They lack a calyx and a corolla
They produce enormous amounts of pollen
The stigmas are long and feathery to catch the pollen
Asexual reproduction
means only one parent is required
Sexual reproduction
mean two parents are required
alternation of generations
plants alternate between two different life stages, or generations, in their life cycle
