Wind pollination

Wind pollination is also known as Anemophily. In wind-pollinated flowers, the pollinating agent is wind. Flowers pollinated by wind have some specific features as follows.

1. Morphological features of the flower: Flowers are colourless, nectarless and odourless. They are small-sized and are present in clusters.
2. Anther: Anther is exerted which allows easy dispersal of pollens.
3. Filament: Filament is long and slender.
4. Pollen: Pollens are lightweight, non-sticky and more in number. Since pollination is a by-chance event, a large number of pollens get wasted during pollination. Also, abiotic (wind) pollination is less specific compared to biotic (insect) pollination.
5. Stigma: Stigma is exerted and feathery to capture pollens.
6. Ovary: The ovary is mono-ovular. Thus, only one pollen is required which increases the chances of Fertilisation.

Difference Between Insect Pollinated And Wind Pollinated Flowers: Insect-pollinated flowers and Wind-Pollinated Flowers have different characteristic features to favour pollination by their respective pollinating agents. Pollination refers to the process of transfer of pollen grain from anther to stigma. All those methods or agencies that help in pollination are known as pollinating agents. The major difference between insect and wind-pollinated flowers is that pollinating agent in Wind-Pollinated Flowers is wind whereas pollinating agents in Insect-pollinated flowers are different types of insects. This difference in pollinating agents results in differences in the features of flowers to favour pollination.