Sjálffrævun

Sjálffrævun is the Icelandic term for self-pollination. This is a process in plants where pollen from the anther of a flower is transferred to the stigma of the same flower, or to another flower on the same plant. This transfer leads to fertilization and the subsequent production of seeds or fruit.

Self-pollination is a common mode of reproduction in many plant species. It ensures that a plant can reproduce even if there are no external pollinators, such as insects or wind, present. This can be advantageous in environments where pollinators are scarce or unreliable. Plants that rely on self-pollination often possess specific adaptations to facilitate this process. For instance, their flowers may be bisexual, containing both male (stamens) and female (pistil) reproductive organs. They might also have mechanisms that promote pollen deposition onto the stigma, such as the arrangement of floral parts or the timing of pollen release and stigma receptivity.

While self-pollination can guarantee reproduction, it also tends to reduce genetic diversity within a plant population. This is because the offspring inherit genes from only one parent plant. In contrast, cross-pollination, where pollen is transferred between different plants, introduces genetic variation. Some plants have evolved mechanisms to prevent self-pollination, known as self-incompatibility, to promote outcrossing and maintain genetic diversity.