- A recent study suggests that pollen may have contributed to the extinction of mammoths by disrupting their sense of smell, which affected their ability to find food and locate group members.
- Anemophilous plants, such as birch and hickory, produce pollen that often causes allergic reactions.
- Grass pollen can trigger hay fever, a common seasonal allergy.
- Palynology is the scientific study of pollen and its interactions with the environment.
- Pollen plays a crucial role in the reproduction of seed-producing plants.
| Pollen’s Biological Function: Pollen is a gametophyte, a multicellular structure that delivers the male gamete to the stigma of another plant. Each pollen particle contains both reproductive and non-reproductive cells. The non-reproductive cells form the pollen tube, while the reproductive cells multiply to form sperm nuclei. The sperm travels through the tube to the base of the pistil, initiating fruit and seed production. Pollen particles are surrounded by sporopollenin, a natural polymer that protects them during their journey through the air and from environmental stress. |
Dig Deeper: Read about Anemophilous Plants.
