Question

Abundant and powdery pollen produced by small, indistinct flowers is probably transported by:

a. bees and butterflies

b. flies

c. birds

d. wind

Short answer

The correct option is (d).wind

Step-by-step solution

Step 1. Introduction

• Pollination is the transfer of pollen grains to the stigma of female reproductive part of flowers.
• Pollination independent on various agents like birds, insects and others.

Step 2. Reason for incorrect option

• Bees and butterflies pollinated flowers are usually white in color, and they produce a very sweet fragrance. These flowers produce huge amounts of nectar, which is rewarded to the pollinators at the time of pollination.
• Flowers pollinated by flies are pale in color, and they produce foul smell such as, rotting meat or humus in order to attract pollinators.
• Flowers pollinated by birds are huge in size to provide a platform for the birds to land. Flowers are very bright and showy in color with nectar production.

Step 3. Reason for correct option

• Pollen grains of wind-pollinated flowers are produced in abundant quantities to make atleast some pollen grains reach the stigmas of other flowers and successful pollination takes place by wind.
• A wind-pollinated flower is known as anemophilus.