Pollination: Cross-Pollination versus Self-Pollination
Pollination is a necessary precursor to fertilisation in seed plants, a group including conifers and flowering plants.
Some flowering plants have evolved to become exclusively
self-pollinating, while others are
cross-pollinating, and many species use both options.
Self-pollinating ensures the production of the next generation but limits the generation of genetic diversity.
Cross-pollinating generates more diversity in a population but there is less certainty of successful reproduction,
and there is generally increased energy expenditure involved.
A friar bird prepares to drink nectar from a waratah (genus Telopea).
