Kinds of Plants Which Are Self-Pollinated

Plants can self-pollinate when they feature both male and female components, allowing them to copy without pollen from another plant, whereas other kinds of plants need pollen from another plant of the very same species or cultivar. Genetic diversity improves plant stock and several plants with the potential to self-pollinate have developed plans that prefer pollination from outdoors.

Self-Pollination

Pollination occurs when pollen is transported from where it was formed in the stamen, or male portion of the flower, to a receptive surface in the pistil, or female part. Most plants need an outside agent to transfer the pollen, such as wind, bees, butterflies and birds, but some species are self-pollinating. At self-pollinated plants, the pollen is transferred between its stamen and pistil, without relying on a different organism for transport.

Characteristics of Self-Pollinating Plants

Most self-pollinating plants have small, inconspicuous flowers that fall pollen right onto the stigma, part of the pistil formation. Their independence from other beings makes them flexible and hardy; several weeds are self-pollinating. These kinds of plants need less energy to produce attractants for pollinators, and can grow in areas in which the pollinators can’t survive, such as the Arctic and high elevations. Self-pollinated plants have a tendency to copy uniform, but not equal, offspring.

Plants with Male and Female Flowers

More potential to self-pollinate exists when flowers have stamens and pistils, but plans within the plants prefer cross-pollination, pollen carried in another plant’s flower. Monoecious plants have separate male staminate and feminine pistilate flowers that mature at various times, increasing the potential for cross-pollination. Oaks, birches, corn and pumpkin are monoecious plants. Dichogamous plants, such as fireweed, possess a stamen and pistil in precisely the exact same flower, but in addition they mature at different rates.

Self-Pollination in Fruit Trees

Fruit trees are called self-pollinating when the blossoms can be fertilized from the other blossom on precisely the exact same tree or another tree of the identical cultivar or a different cultivar of the very same species. The pollen is usually transferred by bees. Sour cherries, apricots and peaches are self-pollinating in this way. Apart from fruit tree species need to be fertilized with pollen from a different cultivar, even if the flowers have female and male components, as a “self-recognition” response blocks pollen from fertilizing a flower on precisely the exact same plant.

See related