Hydrophily by Bridger

Water can be a pollinator. It is known as hydrophily.

There are two ways that water can pollinate.

1.       Surface pollination. A plant will distribute pollen on the surface, where the pollen will drift down stream to another plant. A good example of this is the vallisneria spiralis, or Tape grass, whose female plants temporarily reach up to the surface to make sure that it gets pollinated.

2.       Submerged pollination. The plant will release pollen that is heavier than the water around it. After it is released, the pollen finds its way to a second plant. A plant that does this is the Najas guadalupensis, or southern water nymph, whose male plants release pollen grains that drift through the water. The pollen grains are then caught by a female plant.

3 Replies to “Hydrophily by Bridger”

Comments are closed.