Built for the carrier
Flower features and pollinators.
Wheat and sunflower
A wheat field and a sunflower look very different. The wheat flowers are small and dull. The sunflower is big and bright.
What do you think explains the difference?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Wind-pollinated flowers make light, small pollen in large numbers and have long feathery stigmas; insect-pollinated flowers are bright, fragrant and nectar-producing, with large sticky or spiny pollen and sticky stigmas.
Wheat and sunflower
A wheat field and a sunflower look very different. The wheat flowers are small and dull. The sunflower is big and bright.
What do you think explains the difference?
- Each is suited to the kind of pollinator it uses
- Each is trying to look pretty for people
- Bright flowers are older than dull ones
Wind or insects?
Sort each feature into the right kind of flower.
Features that fit
The left group has features that suit wind. The right group attracts insects and holds on to the pollen.
Wind-pollinated flowers make light, small pollen in large numbers and have long feathery stigmas. Insect-pollinated flowers are bright, fragrant and nectar-producing, with large sticky or spiny pollen and sticky stigmas.
Notes
Wind flowers: light, small pollen, long feathery stigma. Insect flowers: bright, fragrant, nectar, sticky or spiny pollen, sticky stigma.
Check yourself
Why do wind-pollinated flowers make light, small pollen in large numbers?
What is the use of a long, feathery stigma?
Why are pollen grains of insect-pollinated flowers large, sticky or spiny?
A flower is brightly coloured, fragrant and makes nectar. Its pollinator is likely to be…
- To attract bees with a sweet smell. Fragrance and nectar attract insects. Wind-pollinated flowers rely on the wind.
- The pollen is carried by the wind — correct. Yes!
- To stick to the body of an insect. Large, sticky or spiny pollen is a feature of insect-pollinated flowers.
- To make nectar for butterflies. Nectar is produced by insect-pollinated flowers.
- To give off fragrance. Fragrance is a feature of insect-pollinated flowers.
- To trap the pollen carried by the wind — correct. Yes!
- So they can attach to the insect's body — correct. Yes!
- So they float far in the air. Light, small pollen floats in air. Large sticky or spiny pollen attaches to insects.
- So they can be made in large numbers. That is a feature of the light pollen of wind-pollinated flowers.
- the wind. Being bright, fragrant and full of nectar are features of insect-pollinated flowers. Wind-pollinated flowers make light pollen and have long feathery stigmas.
- an insect — correct. Yes!
- water currents. Water pollinates aquatic plants such as Vallisneria and Hydrilla.