Mention about agents of pollination and explain pollination by wind.

Plants use two abiotic (wind and water) and one biotic (animals) agents to achieve pollinations. Majority of plants use biotic agents for pollination.

Only a small proportion of plants use abiotic agents. Pollen grains coming in contact with the stigma of a chance factor in both wind the water pollination. To compensate for the uncertainties and associated loss of pollen grains, the flowers produce enormous amount of pollen when compared to the number of ovules available for pollination. Each type of plant possesses specific characteristics as per its agent of pollination.

Pollination by winds : Pollination by wind is more common amongst abiotic pollinations.

Wind pollination also requires that the pollen grains are light and non sticky so that they can be transported in wind currents.

They often possess well exposed stamens and large often- feathery stigma to easily trap air borne pollen grains.

Wind pollinated flowers often have a single ovule in each ovary and numerous flowers packed into an inflorescence; a familiar example is the corn cob. The tassels we see are nothing but the stigma and style which wave in the wind to trap pollen grains. Wind pollination is quite common in grasses.