Question

Bird pollinated flowers are usually \rule{2cm{0.15mm}}

• A. large, showy and brightly coloured
• B. small and brightly coloured
• C. large and colourless
• D. with strong fragrance

Hint:

Pollination clue: Birds $\rightarrow$ Colour (not smell) Insects $\rightarrow$ Smell + colour

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Pollination by birds is called ornithophily. Flowers adapted for bird pollination have specific characteristics to attract birds.
• Birds rely mainly on vision, not smell.
• They are attracted to bright colours like red, orange, and yellow.
• Flowers are usually large and sturdy to withstand bird visits.
• Nectar is abundant and easily accessible.

Step 1: Understand bird pollination traits.
Since birds have a strong sense of vision but poor sense of smell, flowers must be visually attractive rather than fragrant.

Step 2: Identify key features.
• Bright colour $\rightarrow$ Attracts birds
• Large size $\rightarrow$ Supports feeding
• Lack of strong fragrance

Step 3: Analyze options.
• (A) Large, showy, brightly coloured: Correct
• (B) Small flowers: Not typical
• (C) Colourless: Not attractive to birds
• (D) Strong fragrance: More relevant for insect pollination

Step 4: Conclusion.
Thus, bird-pollinated flowers are large, showy, and brightly coloured. Final Answer: Option (A)