“In this type of pollination, the pollen is transferred from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower.”
In this case, the two flowers are genetically different from each other. The agents of pollination include birds, animals,water wind, and insects. Agents of pollination Cross-pollination depends on insects visiting flowers of the same species in sequence. To help ensure that this happens, the plants have various characteristics that help pollinators locate the right flowers, including the colour, size, shape and scent of the flowers, as well as the food reward. Based on the agent of pollination, cross-pollination can be of different types:
Hydrophily –Here the pollination occurs via water means. The flowers are often very small and inconspicuous to other agents. They do not have any fragrance or too much color on their petals. The pollen is adapted to be able to float in water. Example– Vallisneria
Anemophily– These flowers are pollinated by the agency of wind. These flowers, like zoophilous flowers, are small and inconspicuous. Another important feature of flowers that are wind pollinated is that they are very light so that they are easily carried by the wind. The pollen grains are very light, non-sticky and sometimes winged. Example- Pine trees
Zoophily– In this type of pollination, the pollinating agents are animals. The flowers have pollen that is designed to stick on to the body of the animal so that they can be easily carried from one flower to another. It is of following types:
Entomophily– In this type of pollination by insects. These flowers are often attractive to look at with bright petals and are fragrant to attract the insect visitors to them. They often have broad stigmas or anthers to allow the insect to perch on it. Many of the insect-pollinated flowers also secrete nectar which attracts bees, butterflies or other similar insects to the flowers. The pollen grains in these flowers are often spiny or have extensions that help them to stick on to the body of the insects. Example– flowers of Asteraceae family
Ornithophily– These flowers are pollinated by birds. Very few flowers and birds show this form of pollination. Example– Coral trees
Chiropterophily– The pollination is carried out by Bats. Example– Kigelia, Adansonia trees
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