NEETBotanySexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
What characteristics are common in insect-pollinated flowers?
Options
- AThey are small, green, and produce little nectar
- BThey are large, colorful, fragrant, and rich in nectar
- CThey are large but not colorful
- DThey are small, odorless, and produce no nectar
Correct answer
B. They are large, colorful, fragrant, and rich in nectar
Step-by-step solution
Majority of insect-pollinated flowers are large, colourful, fragrant and rich in nectar. When the flowers are small, a number of flowers are clustered into an inflorescence to make them conspicuous. Animals are attracted to flowers by colour and/or fragrance. The flowers pollinated by flies and beetles secrete foul odours to attract these animals. To sustain animal visits, the flowers have to provide rewards to the animals. Nectar and pollen grains are the usual floral rewards. For harvesting the reward(s) from the