Outline the differences between wind and insect pollinated flowers - KCSE Biology Essays

Flowers of wind pollinated plants are small; with no bracts, sepals or petals; if present the petals are small, inconspicuous; often white or green in colour; while insect pollinated flowers are large; often with brightly coloured petals, bracts or inflorescence; to attract insects.

Flowers of wind pollinated plants have no nectaries; and no scent; while flowers of insect pollinated plants are scented; and produce nectar;

In wind pollinated flowers, the anthers are large; and loosely attached on a flexible filament; to allow pollen grains to be readily released when wind blows on the anthers; while anthers of insect pollinated flowers are usually small; and firmly attached on the filaments; this ensures that the insect rub against the anther; as they crawl into the flower collecting pollen grains onto their bodies;

In wind pollinated flowers, the stigmas are feathery; widely spread; this acts as nets to catch pollen as it floats through the air; while in insect pollinated flowers the stigmas are small; smooth; and sticky; and are also enclosed; this feature ensures that pollen grains from the body of an insect stick onto it;

In wind pollinated flowers, the flowers are simple with no particular shape; while some flowers that are insect pollinated have petals with grooves or dark lines; leading from the petal boarder to the nectaries; some have tubular or funnel-shaped corolla; and landing platforms; to guide the insect to the source of the nectar for their food;

Flowers of wind pollinated plants are either on long stalks above the leaves; or develop from flower buds that open before the leaf buds; to increase the flower exposure to air currents; while flowers of insect pollinated plants are on short stalks; often enclosed by the corolla;