Pollinated

Pollinated is an adjective describing a plant or flower that has received pollen, enabling fertilization and often seed production. In flowering plants (angiosperms), pollination occurs when pollen is transferred from the male organ (anthers) to the female organ (stigma). After landing on a compatible stigma, pollen grains may germinate, growing a pollen tube down the style to reach an ovule for fertilization.

Pollination can be self-pollination (pollen from the same flower or plant) or cross-pollination (pollen from another individual). It can be abiotic, such as wind or water, or biotic, mediated by animals including bees, butterflies, birds, bats, and even some small mammals. Floral traits often evolve to attract specific pollinators and facilitate pollen transfer, a phenomenon known as pollination syndrome.

Pollination has genetic and agricultural importance. Cross-pollination increases genetic diversity, while self-pollination can ensure reproduction in low-pollinator environments but reduces diversity. Some species exhibit self-incompatibility to promote outcrossing.

Because successful pollination is a prerequisite for fruit and seed set, pollination effectiveness influences crop yields and ecosystem resilience. Human activities that reduce pollinator populations and habitat quality threaten pollination services.