AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Wind-pollinated plants produce large numbers of light, dry pollen that are easier to carry by the wind. Stigma is the topmost surface of the pistil that receives pollen grains. Wind-pollinated flowers have a large, feathery stigma in order to trap the airborne pollen grains.

Detailed explanation-2: -The pollen grains are very small and light so they are easily carried on the wind. A lot of pollen is produced, which increases the chances of a pollen grain reaching the stigma in another flower. The stigmas are long and feathery, which gives a large surface area for catching pollen.

Detailed explanation-3: -By contrast, wind-pollinated flowers produce tiny grains of pollen that float on the breeze, with only a fraction of them happening to end up on any pistils. Because the odds of successful wind pollination are long, the plant produces an enormous amount of pollen.

Detailed explanation-4: -The wind-pollinated flowers comprise light-coloured petals without a pleasant strong smell. The insect-pollinated flowers comprise brightly coloured petals with a pleasant strong smell. In wind-pollinated flowers, the produced pollen grains are smaller and lighter in weight, which can be carried by the wind easily.

Detailed explanation-5: -Some flowers use the wind to carry the pollen. Their dangling stamens produce lots of pollen that is light enough to be carried by the wind. The stigmas of these flowers are feathery and hang outside the flower to catch the pollen as it falls. The parts of some flowers are described below.