Download Pollination - Systematics of Plants - Lecture Notes | IB 335 and more Study notes Biology in PDF only on Docsity! Integrative Biology 335 Pollination Notes These are supplementary notes for David Attenborough's "The Private Life of Plants" Video Series, The Birds and the Bees (Volume 3). Additional material pertaining to this subject can be found in the Pollination tutorial of Digital Flowers, and by accessing the Breeding Systems and Pollination web pages used during lectures. Consider the boldfaced questions; similar questions may be asked on exams. Wind Pollination -each species of plant has its own characteristic pollen grains, and these are astonishingly varied and complex in shape. -grasses (Poaceae) shed an enormous amount of pollen; these grains are picked up by large, feathery stigmas necessary to capture the pollen. -hazelnuts (Corylus sp., Betulaceae) have staminate flowers clustered in catkins; the female flowers are few and only have one ovule per ovary. Animal Pollination -bright, showy petals are advertisements to attract animal pollinators. -What are some advantages of cross-fertilization (i.e., outbreeding)? -wild geranium (Geranium sp., Geraniaceae) exhibits dichogamy. In this flower, the androecium matures before the stigma is receptive (protandry). When time comes for the stigma to open, the flower is ready to receive pollen from another plant. Birds -in the kangaroo-paw flower (Anigozanthos sp., Haemodoraceae), the flowers open in succession; pollen is transferred to honey eaters for movement to the stigmas of other flowers. -many bird-pollinated flowers are red (and loaded with nectar). -some plants have translucent patches of scarlet brilliance on their leaves, serving as signposts to attract pollinators. -Why do most bird pollinated flowers have little or no smell? -In some Aloe (Liliaceae) species, the androecium and gynoecium mature simultaneously. Why are these plants not in danger of fertilizing themselves (i.e., inbreeding)? -in proteas (Proteaceae), many small florets combine to form a capitulum inflorescence. The peripheral florets are showy (and sterile) to attract pollinators; the internal florets are perfect and fertile. Mammals and other animals -in other protea species, some inflorescences are found at ground level and point downwards. The flowers are brown and they have a yeasty smell at night. What pollinates these flowers? -the durian tree (Durio zibethinus) of Borneo, like many other tropical plants, is pollinated by fruit bats. The flowers open at night, and contain abundant nectar and pollen. -giant ghekos in New Zealand and black lemurs in Madagascar also serve as pollinators for some tropical plants.
