4.

9 POLLINATION

DEFINITION
Pollination

is the process of
transferring ripe pollen from anther
to stigma.

Pollen grain

Self-pollination
Pollen

from anther is transferred to the

stigma of same flower or another flower on
the same plants.

Cross-pollination
Pollen

from anther of flower is transferred to

the stigma of another flower on a different
plants of the same species.

Comparison between selfpollination and cross-pollination

Characteristics

Self-pollination

Cross-pollination

Number of plant

1 plant

2 plant of same species

Number of flower

1 or 2 (same plant)

2 (different plant of
same species)

Variety in
plant/Variation

Less variety

More variety

Mature

1 flower Anther and stigma

mature at the same times

Anther and stigma

mature at different times

2 flowers Anther and stigma

mature at different times

Pollinating agent
(Agen Pendebungaan)

Agents of pollination
wind

water

Agen
t

anima
ls

insect

Pollinating agent (Wind)

Agent

for most monocotyledonous plant

(maize, grass and paddy)
Characteristics of flower:
white or light in colour
no smell and no nectar
long filaments
Pollens are small, light and smooth pollen.
Style and stigma are long
Stigma is feathery (berbulu) to trap pollen

carried by wind.

Insect
Like

bees and butterfly.

Characteristics of flower:
Big
Colourful
Scented
Insect land on flower to suck nectar for food,

pollen sticks to the hairy legs and body of insect.

When the insect land on another flower, pollen
may drop off and stick on the stigma of flower.

Animals
Like

birds, bats and squirrel

Pollen stick to the beaks, feather or
fur of the animals and transferred to
the stigma of the flower.
Characteristics of flower:
Big
Colourful
Scented
Rough and sticky pollen

Water
Plant

found in ponds, river or stream.

Examples: Elodea, Hydrilla
Flower floats on the water surface
Water carries the pollen from the
anther to the stigma.
Characteristics of flower:
Large amount of pollen
Pollen grains are light

Comparison between wind

and insect pollinated flower
Characteris Insect-pollinated
tics
flower
Petals
Large, brightly
coloured
Pollen grains Small quantities, large
and sticky
Stigma

Sticky

Location of
stigma and
anther
Nectar

Located in the flower

Produce nectar

Wind-pollinated
flower
Small, not
brightly coloured
Large quantities,
powdery and
smooth
Large and
feathery
Hang outside the
flower
No nectar