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## Cross-Pollination Cross-pollination occurs between two flowers on different plants of the same species. ### Agents of Cross Pollination - **Insects**: when insects help in pollination, the transfer of pollen grains is called *insect pollination*. Butterflies, bees and other insects visit flowers...

## Cross-Pollination Cross-pollination occurs between two flowers on different plants of the same species. ### Agents of Cross Pollination - **Insects**: when insects help in pollination, the transfer of pollen grains is called *insect pollination*. Butterflies, bees and other insects visit flowers for nectar (honey). When an insect alights on a flower, the pollen grains stick to its mouth parts, wings, legs etc. When the insect flies to another flower, some of the pollen grains from its body may fall on the stigma of this new flower, thus pollinating it. - **Wind**: when wind is the agent of cross-pollination, it is called *wind pollination*. Some plants like palm, pine etc. produce pollen grains in large quantities. When the flowers mature, the pollen grains may be blown away by the wind; some may even fall on the stigma of the same type of flower and pollination occurs. ### Characteristics of wind-pollinated flowers - They are usually dull coloured - They generally have a protruding stigma, which is easily exposed to wind. ### Activity Visit a garden, especially in the season when flowers of various plants are blossoming. Try to locate insect-pollinated plants, such as marigold, mustard, dahlia, snapdragon etc. and appreciate the variety of colours of the petals of flowers. You would see a large number of butterflies, bees etc. hovering over the flowers. Insects get attracted towards flowers because of their bright colours and sweet fragrance they produce. ## Honey Bee **Honey bee with its body covered with pollen grains.** **Fig. 2.11 A nectar-sucking insect is pollinating a **Salvia** flower**