Carriers of pollen

The idea

Pollination depends on external agents called pollinators: wind, water (currents carrying pollen between flowers of aquatic plants), insects such as bees and butterflies, or birds.

Plants cannot walk

A plant stays rooted in one place. Yet pollen reaches flowers that are some distance away.

What do you think carries the pollen?

• Outside helpers such as wind, water, insects or birds
• The roots of the plant
• The sepals of the flower

Match the carrier

Tap a pollinator, then the plants it pollinates.

External agents

Pollination depends on outside agents called pollinators.

Pollination depends on external agents called pollinators: wind, water (currents carrying pollen between flowers of aquatic plants), insects such as bees and butterflies, or birds.

Notes

Pollinators are external agents: wind, water, insects or birds.

Check yourself

Pollen carriers such as wind, water, insects and birds are called…

Wheat, maize and rice are pollinated by…

How is pollen carried between flowers of aquatic plants such as Hydrilla?

Which are examples of birds that pollinate flowers?

• pollinators — correct. Yes!
• gametes. Gametes are the sperm, eggs and other reproductive cells.
• sepals. Sepals are the green outer covering of the flower bud.
• water. Water pollinates aquatic plants such as Vallisneria and Hydrilla.
• wind — correct. Yes!
• birds. Birds pollinate flowers such as those of the coral tree.
• By bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies pollinate plants such as sunflower and marigold.
• By the filament of the flower. The filament holds up the anther. It does not carry pollen between flowers.
• By currents of water — correct. Yes!
• Indian white-eye and sunbirds — correct. Yes!
• Bees and butterflies. Bees and butterflies are insects.
• Vallisneria and Hydrilla. Those are aquatic plants pollinated through water.