Which of the following statements is incorrect?
(a) Some aquatic plants have long ribbon-like pollen grains.
(b) In certain insect species, the floral reward for pollination is a safe place to lay eggs in the flower.
(c) Insect robbers consume pollen or nectar without contributing to pollination.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → None of these
The question asks which statements are incorrect. Each statement below matches the book, so none of them is incorrect.
(a) Some aquatic plants have long ribbon-like pollen grains. — True. In water-pollinated plants such as seagrasses, the female flowers stay under water. The pollen grains are long and ribbon like, and water carries them to the stigma.
(b) In certain insect species, the floral reward for pollination is a safe place to lay eggs in the flower. — True. Nectar and pollen are the usual rewards. In some species the reward is a safe place to lay eggs, as in the tall flower of Amorphophallus and in the Yucca–moth pair.
(c) Insect robbers consume pollen or nectar without contributing to pollination. — True. Many insects eat pollen or nectar but do not touch the anthers and stigma in the right way. The book calls them pollen/nectar robbers.
NCERT Extract:
Pollination – “… In another group of water pollinated plants such as seagrasses, female flowers remain submerged in water and the pollen grains are released inside the water. Pollen grains in many such species are long, ribbon like and they are carried passively inside the water; some of them reach the stigma and achieve pollination. … In some species floral rewards are in providing safe places to lay eggs; an example is that of the tallest flower of Amorphophallus (the flower itself is about 6 feet in height). … Many insects may consume pollen or the nectar without bringing about pollination. Such floral visitors are referred to as pollen/nectar robbers.”