How Do Plants Reproduce? This is the Method of Pollination and Examples

Illustration - an example of the correct relationship between plants and their pollination method (Photo: Pixabay/Terbe_Rezso)

YOGYAKARTA - Pollination is one of the methods of plant reproduction. There are many plants that reproduce in this way, such as corn, rice, mango, and poinsettia. Understanding the proper relationship between plants and their pollination method will make you better understand how the reproduction process occurs.

It is worth noting that some plants cannot pollinate themselves and need the help of pollinators such as animals, wind, water, and humans.

Various Types of Invaders on Plants

Pollination is a prerequisite for the occurrence of generative or sexual reproduction in plants. Pollen can fall on the flower bud head naturally, but some are also assisted by pollinators.

Referring to the Book of Deepening Material (BUPERI) Natural Sciences: SMP/MTS Class IX by Dewi Nur Haliman, the types of pollination or pollination based on their relationship are divided into four groups, including:

Human-mediated invasion

Inbreeding with human intermediaries is called anthrophilia. This process is carried out directly by humans because pollen and plant buds are difficult or impossible to meet naturally.

Examples of plants that require human assistance for pollination include:

Orchid flowers Salak Watermelon Dragon fruit plant. Pollination with Water Mediator

Hydrophilous pollination generally occurs in plants whose flowers are submerged in water. This pollination process occurs when mature pollen is carried by water, such as water flow or rain, and falls onto the head of the pistil.

Examples of plants that need water assistance to perform pollination are algae, hydrilla, and lotus.

Invasion with a hewian intermediary

The process of pollination in plants that use animal intermediaries is called zoophilia. This process involves various types of animals, such as insects, birds, and bats.

Furthermore, plants that are in the process of being planted are helped by animals that usually have beautiful and colorful shapes.

Examples of plants whose pollination is assisted by animal intermediaries, namely:

Rose flower Jasmine flower Kenanga flower Shoe flower Guava Beringin Cocoa plant. Pollination by Wind Mediator

Pollination by wind intermediaries is called anemophily. Flowers that are pollinated by wind generally have flowers that are less attractive, so that insects do not come close. In addition, the flowers have pollen with a large amount and light.

Because it is very light, the wind can easily blow pollen into the white head, resulting in fertilization.

Examples of plants that use this method to breed are rice, corn, and wheat.

Examples of Proper Relationships between Plants by Their Cultivation Methods

Based on the explanation above, the following are some examples of the correct relationship between plants and their pollination methods:

Bunga Matahari with Bee Assistance

Sunflowers have bright colors and produce abundant nectar, making them very attractive to bees. When bees collect nectar, pollen sticks to their bodies and is carried to other flowers. This is an example of a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship.

Rice with Wind Assistance

Rice plants have small flowers without aroma and are inconspicuous. This plant produces very light pollen so it is easily carried by the wind. Wind pollination is very effective for single-seeded plants such as rice.

Vanilla with Human Assistance

Vanilla plants cannot pollinate themselves because the structure of the flower is very complicated. In modern cultivation, farmers help move pollen from the stamens to the head of the bud using a small pin or fingertip. This relationship is important because without human help, vanilla flowers hardly produce fruit.

Hydrilla with Water Assistance

Hydrilla is a water plant that undergoes pollination when pollen is released and floats on the surface of the water. Pollen moves along the current until it meets the female flower. This relationship shows how aquatic plants use the natural movement of water for reproduction.

This is information about the relationship between plants and how they are pollinated. Get updates on other featured news only at VOI.ID.