Question

Wind pollinated flowers are:
a. Small, scented and colorless
b. Small, non-scented and colorless
c. Big, scented and colorless
d. Big, non-scented and colorless

Answer 1

We all are well aware of the fact that for anything to travel in air, its weight needs to minimum. Further, in case of wind –pollinated flowers no insects are required. Therefore, there is no need for the pollen to have such characteristics which might attract the insects.

Complete answer:
Pollination is the process wherein the transfer of the pollen grains takes place from the anther of one flower to the stigma of the same flower or to the stigma of the different flower.

The flowers which are wind-pollinated produce pollen in large numbers because even if some pollen grains fail to reach their destination, even then there will be viable pollen left to land on the stigma of the flower. Further, these pollens are light in weight, non-sticky and small so that they can be easily carried away by wind. These flowers are not attractive, non-scented and colorless because here there is no use of color and scent which is usually required to attract flies, bees, other insects etc. These flowers do not possess nectar.

Since, now we are well aware of wind-pollinated flowers
Hence, the correct answer is option (B), wind pollinated flowers are small, non-scented and colorless.

Note: Pollination can occur through various ways and all the biotic or abiotic components which bring about pollination are known as the agents of pollination or simply the pollinators. One such pollinator is wind. The pollination in which the agent of pollination is the wind is known as anemophily.