Pollination by snails and slugs is termed malacophily. Snail as a pollinator is not very commonly known and considered. Though snails, during rainy days act as a pollinator for the plant belonging to the sweet potato family.
- Not all plants can be fertile on their own and they do rely on some means of pollination.
- Invertebrates like bees and butterflies generally act as pollinators for most flowering plants.
- Snail species named as Lamellaxis gracilis is one that shows malacophily.
Read More: Morphology of Flowering Plants
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Key terms: Pollination, Snails, Malacophily, Lamellaxis gracilis, Volvulopsis nummularium
Pollination and its Importance
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Reproduction of flowering plants occurs through pollination which means the transfer of pollen grains between parts of plants.
- Pollination between the male anther and female stigma of the same plants (self-pollination) or even two different plants (cross-pollination) is very essential in order to initiate the fertilization process.
- Some invertebrates like honey bees and butterflies are widely known as a carrier of pollen (pollinators) however, pollination can take place by birds, bats, water and air as well.
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Snail as Pollinator
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Snail, an invertebrate that comes out from hibernation during monsoon, is the least common pollinator known among all other natural pollinators. Snails do pollinate for the plant family named Volvulopsis nummularium (Sweet potato).
- A species of snail that acts as a pollen carrier is called Lamellaxis gracilis.
- During dry days when snails undergo hibernation, this plant is pollinated by bees.
- Snails pollinate the plant during the rainy season as they require a moist environment to function.
- The image below shows the snail locomoting onto a plant for pollination purposes.
Snail participating in the pollination of plant
Things to Remember
- Pollination is an essentially biological process for the reproduction of flowering plants.
- The process involves the transfer of pollen grains from the male anther to the female stigma of a plant or between two different plants.
- Some insects and animals like bees, butterflies, bats and birds are known as pollinators that carry pollen and initiate pollination.
- The snail also acts as a pollinator for the plant family Volvulopsis nummularium
- This species of snail is called Lamellaxis gracilis.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is pollination and its types? (4 marks)
Ans. Pollination is a biological process for the reproduction of flowering plants. Pollination is a transfer of pollen grains from anther to the stigma of the same plant or between two different plants. The pollen grains are transferred by means of insects, animals, birds, air or water. Plants can be fertile either through self-pollination or cross-pollination.
Self-pollination is the process where pollen is transferred from the male reproductive organ to the female reproductive organ of the same plant.
Cross-pollination means pollen is moved from one flower to the other for its fertilization.
Ques. What are pollinators? Give an example. (2 marks)
Ans. Pollinators mean something or someone that carries pollen from one plant to another or even from one part of the plant to another. For example, butterflies transfer pollen from another to the stigma by flying or resting on the plant. Other examples of pollinators are birds, bees, water and air. Pollen also moves by air or water and fertiles the female reproductive part of the plant.
Ques. Which among the following is the plant pollinated by snails? (1 mark)
a. Gossypium herbaceum
b. Epipremnum aureum
c. Murraya koenigii
d. Volvulopsis nummularium
Ans. d.Volvulopsis nummularium
Explanation: The snail pollinates the plant of Volvulopsis nummularium family and the rest do not belong to the same family. Thus, the correct answer is option d.
Ques. Who pollinates the Volvulopsis nummularium during dry days? (1 mark)
Ans. Plant Volvulopsis nummularium is pollinated by bees during dry days.
Ques. Why is Volvulopsis nummularium pollinated by both bees and snails? (2 marks)
Ans. As snails live in moisture, they undergo hibernation and come out only on rainy days, generally during monsoon season. It pollinates the plant when they are not hibernating but as soon as winter comes, they start hibernating and the plant needs some other pollinators. Thus, on such days bees act as a pollinator for the plant V. nummularium.
Ques. Define two types of pollination. (2 marks)
Ans. Pollination can be of two types.
- Self-pollination: A pollen transfer occurs from the male anther to the stigma of the self plant.
- Cross-pollination: Pollen grains get transferred from one plant to the female reproductive part of the other plant.
Ques. Pollination by snails is called? (1 mark)
a. Malacophily
b. Ornithophily
c. Anemophily
d. Chiropterophily
Ans. a. Malacophily
Explanation: Pollination by snails is called malacophily. Pollination by birds is termed ornithophily. Anemophily is pollination by air and Chiropterophily means pollination by bats. Thus, the correct answer is option a.
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