Difference Between Insect Pollinated And Wind Pollinated Flowers

Difference Between Insect Pollinated And Wind Pollinated Flowers: Insect-pollinatedflowers and Wind-Pollinated Flowers have different characteristic features to favour pollination by their respective pollinating agents. Pollination refers to the process of transfer of pollen grain from anther to stigma. All those methods or agencies that help in pollination are known as pollinating agents. The major difference between insect and wind-pollinated flowers is that pollinating agent in Wind-Pollinated Flowers is wind whereas pollinating agents in Insect-pollinated flowers are different types of insects. This difference in pollinating agents results in differences in the features of flowers to favour pollination.

Difference Between Insect-Pollinated And Wind Pollinated Flowers

Wind pollination

Wind pollination is also known as Anemophily. In wind-pollinated flowers, the pollinating agent is wind. Flowers pollinated by wind have some specific features as follows.

1. Morphological features of the flower: Flowers are colourless, nectarless and odourless. They are small-sized and are present in clusters.
2. Anther: Anther is exerted which allows easy dispersal of pollens.
3. Filament: Filament is long and slender.
4. Pollen: Pollens are lightweight, non-sticky and more in number. Since pollination is a by-chance event, a large number of pollens get wasted during pollination. Also, abiotic (wind) pollination is less specific compared to biotic (insect) pollination.
5. Stigma: Stigma is exerted and feathery to capture pollens.
6. Ovary: The ovary is mono-ovular. Thus, only one pollen is required which increases the chances of Fertilisation.

Insect pollination

Insect pollination is also known as Entmophily. In insect-pollinated flowers, the pollinating agents are different types of insects including honey bees, butterflies, moths, beetles, wasps, ants, and flies. Flowers pollinated by insects have some specific features as follows

1. Morphological features of theflower: Flowers are colourful, contain edible nectar and have a pleasant odour. They are also small-sized and are present in clusters.
2. Anther: Anther is hidden and found deep inside the flower.
3. Filament: Filament is strong and short.
4. Pollens: Pollens are sticky and less in number as compared to wind-pollinated flowers because insect pollination is more specific. This also results in less wastage.
5. Stigma: Stigma is small.
6. Ovary: Ovary is triovular.