(a) Distinguish between pollination and fertilization in plants. (b)(i) State five features which ensure cross pollination in plants. (ii) Name one plant ex...

Answer Details

(a) Distinction between pollination and fertilization

(b)(i) Five features which ensure cross-pollination, with (ii) a plant example each

1. Dioecism - male and female flowers on separate plants (e.g. pawpaw).
2. Protandry - anthers mature before the stigma of the same flower (e.g. sunflower).
3. Protogyny - stigma matures before the anthers of the same flower (e.g. maize).
4. Self-sterility (self-incompatibility) - pollen cannot fertilise the stigma of the same flower (e.g. Passion flower).
5. Heterostyly - different lengths of styles and stamens in different flowers (e.g. Primula).

Unisexual flowers on the same plant (monoecy, e.g. maize) is also acceptable.

(c)(i) Three agents of pollination

1. Wind.
2. Insects.
3. Water (or birds/animals).

(c)(ii) Three features of wind-dispersed fruits/seeds

1. They are small and very light, so they are easily carried by wind.
2. They have wing-like or membranous extensions (e.g. in Combretum) that help them glide.
3. They possess hairs, tufts or parachute-like structures (e.g. the pappus of dandelion) that increase buoyancy in air.