Editing Pollination (section)

=== Abiotic pollination===
Abiotic pollination uses nonliving methods such as wind and water to move pollen from one [[flower]] to another. This allows the plant to spend energy directly on pollen rather than on attracting pollinators with flowers and [[nectar]]. Pollination by wind is more common amongst abiotic pollination.

==== By wind ====
[[File:Pollen from Dactylis glomerata.jpg|alt=Cat grass (Dactylis glomerata) spreading pollen by wind|thumb|Cat grass (''[[Dactylis glomerata]]'') spreading pollen by wind]]
Some 98% of abiotic pollination is [[anemophily]], i.e., pollination by wind. This probably arose from insect pollination (entomophily), most likely due to changes in the environment or the availability of pollinators.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3zfLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA34 |title=Principles of Pollination Ecology |vauthors=Faegri K, Van der Pijl L |date=2013-10-22 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=9781483293035 |page=34}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Whitehead DR |date=March 1969 |title=Wind Pollination in the Angiosperms: Evolutionary and Environmental Considerations |journal=Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=28–35 |doi=10.2307/2406479 |jstor=2406479 |pmid=28562955}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Culley |first1=Theresa M. |last2=Weller |first2=Stephen G. |last3=Sakai |first3=Ann K. |name-list-style=vanc |date=2002-08-01 |title=The evolution of wind pollination in angiosperms |journal=Trends in Ecology & Evolution |volume=17 |issue=8 |pages=361–369 |doi=10.1016/S0169-5347(02)02540-5}}</ref> The transfer of pollen is more efficient than previously thought; wind pollinated plants have developed to have specific heights, in addition to specific floral, [[stamen]] and stigma positions that promote effective pollen dispersal and transfer.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Friedman J, Barrett SC |date=June 2009 |title=Wind of change: new insights on the ecology and evolution of pollination and mating in wind-pollinated plants |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=103 |issue=9 |pages=1515–27 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcp035 |pmc=2701749 |pmid=19218583}}</ref>

==== By water ====
Pollination by water, [[hydrophily]], uses water to transport pollen, sometimes as whole anthers; these can travel across the surface of the water to carry dry pollen from one flower to another.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal |last=Cox |first=Paul Alan |name-list-style=vanc |date=1988 |title=Hydrophilous Pollination |journal=Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics |volume=19 |pages=261–279 |doi=10.1146/annurev.es.19.110188.001401 |jstor=2097155}}</ref> In ''[[Vallisneria spiralis]]'', an unopened male flower floats to the surface of the water, and, upon reaching the surface, opens up and the fertile anthers project forward. The female flower, also floating, has its stigma protected from the water, while its [[sepal]]s are slightly depressed into the water, allowing the male flowers to tumble in.<ref name=":10" />

==== By rain ====

Rain pollination is used by a small percentage of plants. Heavy rain discourages insect pollination and damages unprotected flowers, but can itself disperse pollen of suitably adapted plants, such as ''[[Ranunculus flammula]]'', ''[[Narthecium ossifragum]]'', and ''[[Caltha palustris]]''.<ref name="pollin" /> In these plants, excess rain drains allowing the floating pollen to come in contact with the stigma.<ref name="pollin" /> In some orchids ombrophily occurs, and rain water splashes cause the anther cap to be removed, allowing for the pollen to be exposed. After exposure, raindrops causes the pollen to be shot upward, when the stipe pulls them back, and then fall into the cavity of the stigma. Thus, for the orchid ''[[Acampe rigida]]'', this allows the plant to self-pollinate, which is useful when biotic pollinators in the environment have decreased.<ref name="Fan2012">{{cite journal |vauthors=Fan XL, Barrett SC, Lin H, Chen LL, Zhou X, Gao JY |date=October 2012 |title=Rain pollination provides reproductive assurance in a deceptive orchid |url= |journal=Annals of Botany |volume=110 |issue=5 |pages=953–8 |doi=10.1093/aob/mcs165 |pmc=3448421 |pmid=22851311 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==== Switching methods ====
It is possible for a plant to have varying pollination methods, including both biotic and abiotic pollination. The orchid ''[[Oeceoclades maculata]]'' uses both rain and butterflies, depending on its environmental conditions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Aguiar |first1=João M. R. B. V. |last2=Pansarin |first2=Ludmila M. |last3=Ackerman |first3=James D. |last4=Pansarin |first4=Emerson R. |name-list-style=vanc |date=2012 |title=Biotic versus abiotic pollination in Oeceoclades maculata (Lindl.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae) |journal=Plant Species Biology |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=86–95 |doi=10.1111/j.1442-1984.2011.00330.x}}</ref>