anemophily

Anemophily, or wind pollination, is a mode of pollination in which pollen is dispersed by atmospheric wind rather than by animals. In anemophilous plants, flowers are typically small, inconspicuous, and lacking nectar or strong scent. They are often arranged to expose the reproductive organs to the air, and pollen is released in large quantities to increase the chances of reaching a stigma carried by the wind.

Floral traits associated with anemophily include light, smooth pollen grains and stigmas that are highly exposed or feathery to enhance capture. Many anemophilous species have unisexual flowers and may be dioecious, with separate male and female individuals, or have male and female flowers on the same plant. Flowering is frequently synchronized within populations to maximize pollen availability, and some species produce conspicuous catkins or panicles to facilitate pollen release and dispersal.

Taxonomic groups that commonly rely on wind pollination include grasses (Poaceae), many trees and shrubs such as willows (Salix), birches (Betula), alders (Alnus), hazels (Corylus), oaks (Quercus), and conifers (pines and other conifers). These plants often inhabit open or edge habitats where wind currents are reliable, though wind pollination can be less efficient in dense forests or during wet weather.

Ecological considerations include the reliance on appropriate weather conditions and the production of large pollen loads, which can travel long distances but also incurs ecological costs. Wind pollination contrasts with biotic strategies such as entomophily (insect pollination) and other animal-mediated pollination syndromes.