NEETBotanySexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
What happens to the male flowers of Vallisneria during pollination?
Options
- AThey are carried away by insects
- BThey are released onto the surface of water
- CThey are blown away by wind
- DThey stick to the female flowers
Correct answer
B. They are released onto the surface of water
Step-by-step solution
Pollination by water is quite rare in flowering plants and is limited to about 30 genera, mostly monocotyledons. Some examples of water pollinated plants are Vallisneria and Hydrilla which grow in fresh water and several marine sea-grasses such as Zostera. Not all aquatic plants use water for pollination. In a majority of aquatic plants such as water hyacinth and water lily, the flowers emerge above the level of water and are pollinated by insects or wind as in most of the land plants. In Vallisneria, the female fl