3.3b Wind pollination

• Wind pollination is the transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma through air carried by the wind.

The adaptations by wind pollinated plants are:

1. The pollen grains are lightweight so they wind can carry them and also many have a wing feaure to help them get carried by the wind.
2. Exposed anther - anthers will hang well clear of any basic flower structure so that they are exposed to the wind.
3. Exposed stigma - stigma of wind pollinated plants have a really large surface area, a kind of feather like structure to catch pollen grains in the air.

Note that wind pollinated plants do not have                                                                                                     - Coloured petals.                                                                                                                                           - No scent.                                                                                                                                                       - And no nectaries.                                                                                                                                                      

As there would be no point in attracting insects, and doing these things would be a waste of energy.