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The aerodynamics of wind pollination

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Abstract

A number of morphologic features have evolved in evolutionarily divergent plant groups that appear to increase the efficiency of wind pollination. Among these features are the appearance of low density pollen grains, female ovulate organs that direct air currents carrying pollen toward stigmas or micropyles, and population structures with a high density of con-specifics. This paper reviews the aerodynamic theory, and the experimental and field data that are relevant to an understanding of the adaptive significance of these and other features of anemophily. Emphasis is placed on the mathematical description of the behavior of airflow patterns around ovulate organs. The efficiency of wind pollination is shown to be dictated principally by the vectoral properties of air currents created by and around ovulate organs and the physical properties of pollen that dictate their behavior as airborne particles.

Abstrakt

Eine Anzahl von morphologischen Kennzeichen, die Effizienz der Windpollination zu steigern scheinen, haben sich in evolutionär ausenandergehonden Pflanzengruppen entwickelt. Zu diesen Kennzeichen gehören die Erscheinung von Pollenkörnen von geringer Dichte, weiblichen Organen die pollentragende Luftströmungen zu den Stigmas oder Micropylen dirigieren, und Bevölkerungsstrukturen mit grosser Dichte von Con-specifics. Diese Abhandlung gibt einen überblick der aerodynamischen Theorie und der experimentelle Werte, die für das Verständnis der adaptiven Signifikanz dieser und anderer Kennzeichen der Windpollination von Bedeutung sind. Betont wird die mathematische Beschreibung des Verhaltens der Luftströmungen um die weiblichen Organe. Es wird gezeigt, dass die Effizienz der Windpollination hauptsächlich durch die vectoralen Eigenschaften der Luftströmungen die durch und um die weiblichen Organe entstehen, bestimmt wird, und durch die physischen Eigenschaften des Pollens, die sein Verhalten als luftgetragene Partikel diktieren.

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  1. Division of Biological Sciences Section of Plant Biology, Cornell University, 14850, Ithaca, New York

    Karl J. Niklas

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Niklas, K.J. The aerodynamics of wind pollination. Bot. Rev 51, 328–386 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861079

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