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The pollen grains of a flower are hairy and light. Will it be close to the mother plant after dispersal? Explain.

a) Yes, because the hairs help it stick to the mother plant.
b) No, because the hairs aid in wind dispersal.
c) Yes, because the hairs make it too heavy to be carried by the wind.
d) No, because the hairs are designed for animal dispersal.

User Bagljas
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Final answer:

Hairy and lightweight pollen grains are designed for wind dispersal, allowing them to travel away from the parent plant. Option B is correct.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question regarding whether pollen grains that are hairy and light will be close to the mother plant after dispersal can be answered as follows: No, because the hairs aid in wind dispersal (option b). Hairy and lightweight adaptations in pollen grains are typically for wind pollination, allowing them to be carried away from the parent plant to avoid competition and find less competitive environments to germinate and grow.

Flowers pollinated by wind, like grasses and some trees, produce large amounts of lightweight pollen that can be transported by wind. The delicate, hair-like structures on the pollen grains can catch the wind, much like the fluff of a dandelion, allowing the pollen to travel substantial distances.

Other animals that pollinate plants include bees, various insects, small birds like hummingbirds, and some mammals. These pollinators are attracted to the flowers by nectar and visual cues like brightly colored petals.

User This Is It
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