Step 1: Understanding pseudocopulation.
- Pseudocopulation is a process in which a male insect is attracted to a flower that mimics the appearance or scent of a female insect.
- During its attempt to copulate, the insect facilitates pollination by transferring pollen.
Step 2: Mimicry in flowers. - This is an example of mimicry used by flowers to attract specific pollinators, ensuring effective reproduction.
Many of the flowering plants producing hermaphrodite flowers have developed many devices to discourage self-pollination and to encourage cross-pollination. Given below is a picture of one such outbreeding device in a flowering plant. Study the picture and answer the questions that follow:
(a) Explain how the given type of pollination is advantageous to the plant.
(b) Can this flowering plant show geitonogamy? Justify your answer.