Biology: Types of Pollination and Agents

Practice questions covering the types of pollination (autogamy, geitonogamy, xenogamy), specific floral adaptations like cleistogamy, and the agents involved in pollination.

Which three plants are mentioned as producing both chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers?

Viola (common pansy), Oxalis, and Commelina.

What are the characteristics of chasmogamous flowers?

They are similar to flowers of other species with exposed anthers and stigma.

How do cleistogamous flowers differ from chasmogamous flowers in terms of their opening?

Cleistogamous flowers do not open at all.

Why are cleistogamous flowers considered invariably autogamous?

Because the anthers and stigma lie close to each other and there is no chance of cross-pollen landing on the stigma.

What is a major advantage of cleistogamy regarding seed production?

It produces assured seed-set even in the absence of pollinators.

What is the definition of Geitonogamy?

Transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of another flower of the same plant.

Why is geitonogamy genetically similar to autogamy despite being functionally cross-pollination?

Because the pollen grains come from the same plant.

What is Xenogamy?

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma of a different plant.

Which type of pollination is the only one that brings genetically different types of pollen grains to the stigma?

Xenogamy.

What are the two abiotic agents of pollination?

Wind and water.

Which category of agents do the majority of plants use for pollination?

Biotic agents (animals).

How do flowers compensate for the uncertainties and loss of pollen grains associated with wind and water pollination?

They produce an enormous amount of pollen when compared to the number of ovules available for pollination.