Final answer:
When pollinated by insects, pollen is transferred as individual grains that adhere to the body parts of the pollinator and are then transferred to the stigma of another flower. Wind-pollinated species release lightweight pollen that is carried by the wind and deposited on the stigma of the flower.
Step-by-step explanation:
When flowers attract insects to their nectar, the insects pick up pollen and later drop it off at other flowers of the same species, bringing about fertilization. The pollen is released by the male cones of the flower and can be carried by the wind to the female cones. In wind-pollinated species, the microsporangia hang out of the flower and the lightweight pollen is carried by the wind, depositing it on the exposed feathery stigma of the flower.
In the case of pollination by insects, the pollen is not released in a cloud but rather as individual grains that adhere to the body parts of the pollinator, such as the legs or the body. When the pollinator visits another flower, the pollen is transferred to the stigma of that flower, thus allowing fertilization to occur.