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Adaptations for Pollination (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)
Revision Note
Insect-Pollinated Flowers
- Flowers are the reproductive organs of plants
- The role of flowers is to enable plant gametes to come together in fertilisation
- The male gametes of plants are found in pollen grains
- The female gametes of plants are in ovules
- The process by which pollen is transferred from the male part of a flower to the female part of a flower is known as pollination; this can be carried out in various ways, e.g. by insects or by wind
Insect-pollinated flower structure
Insect pollinated flowers are adapted to attract insects and aid insect pollination
Structure | Description |
Sepal | Protects unopened flower |
Petals | Brightly coloured in insect-pollinated flowers to attract insects |
Anther | Produces and releases pollen |
Filaments | Provides support to the anther |
Stigma | Sticky top of the female part of the flower which collects pollen grains |
Style | A tube that connects the stigma and ovary |
Ovary | Contains the ovules |
Ovule | Structures inside the ovary that contain the female gametes |
Structural adaptations of insect-pollinated flowers
- Insect pollinated flowers are adapted to allow insects to collect pollen from one flower and easily transfer it to another flower
- When an insect enters a flower in search of nectar it brushes against the anthers, which deposit sticky pollen onto the insect's body
- When the insect visits another flower it brushes against the stigma and deposits some of the pollen from the first flower; this is pollination
Feature | Adaptations of an insect pollinated flower |
Petals | Large and brightly coloured to attract insects |
Scent and nectar | Scent and nectar are produced to encourage insects to visit the flower and push past stamen to get to nectar |
Anthers | Held on stiff filaments within the flower so that they brush against insects |
Stigma | Sticky stigmas within the flowers catch pollen grains when insects brush past |
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Wind-Pollinated Flowers
Wind pollinated flower structure
- Wind-pollinated flowers do not need to attract insects, so their structure differs from that of insect-pollinated flowers
Wind pollinated flowers have anthers that hang outside the flower on long filaments, and feathery stigmas that can catch pollen easily
Structural adaptations of wind-pollinated flowers
- Wind pollinated flowers are adapted so that wind can easily catch pollen grains and carry them to the stigmas of other flowers
- The anthers and stigmas of wind pollinated flowers hang outside the flower so that:
- pollen can easily be blown away by the wind
- pollen can easily be caught by the stigmas of other flowers
Feature | Adaptations of a wind pollinated flower |
Petals | Small and dull, often green or brown in colour; producing colourful petals would be a waste of energy |
Scent and nectar | Scent and nectar are not produced; this would be a waste of energy |
Anthers | Held on long filaments outside the flower to release pollen grains easily into the wind |
Stigma | Feathery stigmas outside the flower catch airborne pollen grains |
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