Question

Which features are characteristic of insect-pollinated flowers?
A. Bright petals, large feathery stigmas
B. Bright petals, rough sticky pollen
C. Large feathery stigmas, nectaries
D. Small light pollens, nectaries

Answer 1

Hint: Insect-pollinated flowers are often sweetly-scented. They are large and have brightly colored petals. They usually contain nectar- to attract insects. They have pollen grains that are often sticky and spiky so that they can stick to the legs and body of insects.

Complete answer:
Characteristic features of insect-pollinated flowers are-
1) Flowers are brightly colored, scented, and secrete nectar.
2) Pollen grains are larger, sticky, and spiny.
3) Pollen grains are fewer in number as they are transported mechanically by insects.
4) The stigma of flowers is small and deep within the corolla.
5) The stamens are within the corolla tube.

Option (A) - Bright petals, large feathery stigmas are not right because the stigma of insect-pollinated flowers is small.

Option (B)- Bright petals, rough sticky pollen is correct for insect-pollinated flowers because they are brightly colored and have large and sticky pollen grains with spikes.

Option (C)- Large feathery stigmas, nectaries are wrong because they have small stigmas

Option (D)- Small light pollen, nectaries are incorrect because insect-pollinated flowers have large and sticky pollen grains with spikes.

Hence, The correct answer is option (B).

Note: As the name implies, insect-pollinated flowers are the flowers that are pollinated by Insects. This happens typically when insects move from plant to plant searching for food. Pollen grains stick to the insect's body when they land on a flower to feed. And when the insect moves to another flower of the same species, these pollen grains get transferred to another flower's stigma for pollination. Some Examples of insect-pollinated flowers are china rose, sunflower, salvia, pea, etc.