Which one of the following plants undergo pollination by insects?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Water hyacinth
Most aquatic plants do not use water for pollination. Water hyacinth is one of them. Its flowers rise above the water, so insects or wind carry the pollen.
(1) Vallisneria — Incorrect. This is a water-pollinated plant. Its pollen floats on the water surface and reaches the female flowers by water currents.
(2) Water hyacinth — Correct. Its flowers emerge above the water and are pollinated by insects or wind.
(3) Hydrilla — Incorrect. This is also pollinated by water.
(4) Zostera — Incorrect. This sea-grass is pollinated by water too.
NCERT Extract:
Pollination – “… Some examples of water pollinated plants are Vallisneria and Hydrilla which grow in fresh water and several marine sea-grasses such as Zostera. Not all aquatic plants use water for pollination. In a majority of aquatic plants such as water hyacinth and water lily, the flowers emerge above the level of water and are pollinated by insects or wind as in most of the land plants.”