Õietolmuvoo

Õietolmuvoo, also known as pollen flow, refers to the movement of pollen grains from the anthers of one flower to the stigma of another flower. This process is essential for sexual reproduction in flowering plants and is primarily facilitated by various external agents. The most common vectors for pollen flow are wind and animals, particularly insects and birds. Wind pollination, or anemophily, is characteristic of grasses, oaks, and pine trees, where pollen is produced in large quantities and carried passively by air currents. Insect pollination, or entomophily, involves insects like bees, butterflies, and moths, which are attracted to flowers by their color, scent, and nectar. As they visit flowers to feed, pollen grains adhere to their bodies and are transferred to subsequent flowers. Bird pollination, or ornithophily, is observed in plants like hummingbirds and sunbirds, which consume nectar and inadvertently carry pollen. The distance pollen can travel varies greatly depending on the vector and environmental conditions. Successful pollen flow leads to pollination, fertilization, and the subsequent development of seeds and fruits, ensuring the continuation of plant species.