{"id":81,"date":"2017-06-10T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-10T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/10\/pollination-seed-dispersal-difference\/"},"modified":"2025-10-21T18:26:21","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T10:26:21","slug":"pollination-seed-dispersal-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/pollination-seed-dispersal-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Pollination VS Seed Dispersal – What’s The Difference?!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”0px|||” custom_padding=”0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”off|phone” module_class=”single-post-body et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” make_fullwidth=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Main Blog Text” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”28px” header_font=”geomanist-bold||||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-55px|-45px||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” z_index_tablet=”500″ border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Does your child often get confused over the dispersal of pollen grains and the dispersal of seeds? What\u2019s the difference?<\/p>\n

In the first article from our All About Plants Series<\/strong><\/span>,<\/a> we will be clarifying this misconception!<\/p>\n

Here’s what happened in class recently:<\/p>\n

Me:<\/span> Class, what are the agents of dispersal for pollen grains?<\/span><\/p>\n

Class:<\/span> Wind.<\/p>\n

Me:<\/span> *nods* What else?<\/span><\/p>\n

Class:<\/span> Animals!!!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/span> *nods*<\/span><\/p>\n

Class:<\/span> Wind!!! Splitting!!!<\/p>\n

Me:<\/span> *Wide gaping mouth* \ud83d\ude2e<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a common misconception among students as wind and animals are both methods of dispersal for seeds and pollen grains.<\/p>\n

\n

Read Also<\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Ultimate Science Practice Series: Plant Cycle (Practice Questions & Explainer Videos)<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Student\u2019s Guide To Asking The Right Questions: All About Plant Parts<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Student\u2019s Guide To Asking The Right Questions: Plants That Do Not Bear Flowers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Students tend to consider the different types of seed dispersal together with the agents of dispersal of pollen grains, causing them to lose substantial marks in both multiple-choice questions and open-ended questions.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Agents of Pollination<\/span><\/h2>\n

    In order for flowering plants to develop fruits, flowers need to be pollinated.<\/p>\n

    Pollination is the transfer of pollen grain (that contains the male reproductive cell) from the anther (male reproductive part) to the stigma (female reproductive part).<\/p>\n

    For pollen grains to be transferred from the anther to the stigma, some external help is needed!<\/p>\n

    There are two classifications for the agents\u00a0of pollination:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Wind<\/li>\n
    2. Animals (Insects\/Birds)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      There are a few distinguishable characteristics between wind-pollinated flowers and animal-pollinated flowers as shown in the table below:<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Questions testing on agents of pollination would typically have diagrams on flowers illustrating the distinguishable parts.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Here’s An Example<\/span><\/h3>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Looking at the diagrams, we can observe that Flower A has larger petals than Flower B and the anthers of Flower B are dangling outside as compared to the anthers of Flower A which are enclosed within the flower.<\/p>\n

      Hence, it can be concluded that Flower A is animal-pollinated whereas Flower B is wind-pollinated.<\/p>\n

      With this information, students can go on to tackle the application part of the question.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Dispersal of Seeds\/Fruits<\/span><\/h2>\n

      After the flower has been pollinated and fertilised, the ovary will swell and develop into a fruit.<\/p>\n

      In order for seedlings to grow healthily, it is important for seeds to be dispersed further away from the parent plant.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Importance of Seed Dispersal<\/span><\/h2>\n

      A commonly tested question is:<\/p>\n

      \n

      Why is it important for seeds to be dispersed further from the parent plant?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

      There are a few key points that are required in the answer:<\/p>\n