Write a note on characteristics of plants pollinated by water

Explanation

Pollination by water is quite rare in flowering plants and is limited to about 30 generas, mostly monocotyledons. Water is a regular mode of transport for the male gametes among the lower plant groups such as algae, bryophytes and pteridophytes, that their distribution is limited because of the need for water for the transport of male gametes and fertilization. Some examples of water pollinated plants are Vallisneria and Hydrilla which grow in fresh water and several marine sea grasses such as Zostera. In a majority of aquatic plants such as water hyacinth adn water lily, the flowers emerge, above the level of water and are pollinated by insects or wind as in most of the land plants.

In valisneria the female flower reach the surface of water by the long stalk and the male flowers or pollen grains are released on to the surface of water. They are carried passively by water current. Some of them eventually reach the female flowers adn the stigma. In another group of water pollinated plants such as sea grasses, 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 most of the water pollinated species, pollen grains are protected from wetting by a mucilaginous covering. Both wind and water pollinated flowers are not very colourful and do not produce neetar.