Adaptations of flowers for pollination

These flashcards cover the main concepts discussed in the lecture about the roles and adaptations of flowers in pollination, including the differences between various pollination methods.

What are the reproductive organs found in flowers?

The male (stamen) and female (carpel) organs.

What does the stamen produce?

Pollen grains that contain male gametes.

What is the function of pollinators in relation to flowers?

They transport pollen from an anther to a stigma.

What is co-evolution in relation to flowers and pollinators?

It's the adaptation of flowers and their pollinators for mutual benefit.

Why is pollination by pollinators advantageous for plants?

• avoids self-pollination, promoting genetic strength

• more precise transfer of pollen.

• Pollination is not wasted by pollinators

What are the diffrent types of pollinators?

Bees, birds and primarily insects

What adaptation do flowers have for attracting insects?

• Flowers have large and colourful, except red since bees can’t tell from black flowers

• contain sweet scents- attracts moths and butterflies

• and provides nectar or pollen

Name the adavatages of the adaptations of insect-pollinated flowers

• Contain sticky pollen grain, allows them to stick to the insect

• They produce large amounts of pollen since some can get to the wrong flower

• The flowers contain contrasting ultraviolet patters, which allows the insect to see the centre of the flowr

State the advantage of insect-pollinated plants, containg contrasting ultraviolet patters

• Contains visual cues that attract insects to the flower's center, improving pollination efficiency as it would allow the pollinators to locate the nectar more easily.

How are bird-pollinated flowers different from insect-pollinated flowers?

Bird pollinated flowers are generally larger, often red, and produce more dilute nectar.

What advantages do wind-pollinated flowers have?

They produce vast amounts of light, non-sticky pollen and lack color and scent to attract pollinators.

What is one difference between pollinator and wind pollination?

Pollinators move pollen directly between plants, making pollination more efficient and less wasteful.

What feature distinguishes insect-pollinated flowers?

The anther and stiigma are in the flower which is where the insect brushes to get the nectar

Why do wind-pollinated flowers often lack scent or bright colors?

They do not need to attract pollinators as they rely on wind for pollen dispersal.

What adaptation do flowers have for attracting brids?

• Their petals are big

• They are red, which since birds can easily see this color, helps attract them.

• They have no scent since birds have no sense of smell

• The stamens and stigmas stick out of the flower

• Erect and sometimes have a land platform

When are bird-pollinated flowers open?

Bird-pollinated flowers are typically open during the day.

True or false: Bird-pollinated flowers pollen grains’ are in sticky clumps

True

What is the advantage of bird-pollinated flowers having pollen grains in sticky clumps

Sticky pollen clumps ensure efficient pollen transfer to birds, boosting pollination success.

Why is wind pollination not an effective process for pollination

Wind-pollination is often less effective because it relies on chance for pollen to reach flowers, resulting in lower fertilization rates compared to animal-assisted pollination. It also produces also of pollen .

Name one DISTINCT feature that wind-pollinated flowers have

They do no produce nectar unlike the other types of pollinated flowers

State why bird-pollinated flowers make sticky pollen grains in clumps

This is to create more effective pollination

State the different characteristics of wind-pollinated flowers

• They are placed in high areas to get exposed to the wind

• They can lack in corrla and calyx

• Their anthers are large and exposed to the wind which produces alot of pollen

• The stigmas are light and feathery and have a large area to catch the pollen grains

State the similarities of bird and insect-poliinated flowers

• Both prodduce pollen with spikes

• Both contain anthers and stigmas that are either inside or stick out of the flower

• Both have obvious petals

State the difference between insect and pollinated flowers in terms of the their shape of flower, colour and the corolla and whether they have a landing platform

• Insect-pollinated plants have a wider, more horizontal corolla tube with a landing platform. Bird-pollinated plants have a longer and narrower corolla tube, which is meant to fit the size of the bird’s beak with no landing platform

• Insect-pollinated flowers are very colourful but don’t contain red since bees cannot see red. Bird-pollinated flowers only contain red flowers, as this is the colour that birds can easily see

• Corollas in insect flowers have a variable size. The corolla in bird flowers is larger and stronger

State the difference between insect-pollinated flowers and pollinated flowers in terms of their nectar and the amount of it, if they have guides to collect nectar, if they have scents and if they bloom at night

• Insect-pollinated flowers produce less nectar. Bird-polllinated flowers more amounts of diltute nectar

• Insect pollinated flowers contain ultraviolet patters to guide flowers to collect necar. Bird pollinated flowers do not have any

• Insect-poillinated flowers sometimes bllom at night. Bird-pollinated flowers never bloom at night.

State the similarities between bird-pollinated flowers and insect-pollinated flowers.

• Both produce nectar

• Both contain petals

• Both contain stigmas and anthers that are either inside or outside the flower

• Both contain pollen grains with spikes which allows them to stick together to let the pollinator collect it easily

• Both can affected by disease organisms