Explain the pollination mechanism in Salvia.

Explanation

Pollination in Salvia (Lever mechanism):
(i) The flowerof Salvia is adapted for Bee pollination.
(ii) The flower is protandrous and the corolla is bilabiate with 2 stamens.
(iii) A lever mechanism helps in pollination.
(iv) Each anther has an upper fertile lobe and lower sterile lobe which is separated by a long connective which helps the anthers to swing freely.
(v) When a bee visits a flower, it sits on the lower lip which acts as a platform.
(vi) It enters the flower to suck the nectar y pushing its head into the corolla.
(vii) During the entry of the bee into the flower the body strikes against the sterile end of the connective.

(viii) This makes the fertile part of the stamen to descend and strike at the back of the bee.
(ix) The pollen gets deposited on the back of the bee. When it visits another flower, the pollen gets rubbed against the stigma and completes the act of pollination in Salvia.