Anemophilous

/ˌænəˈmɑfələs/ adjective

Definition

Describing plants that are pollinated by wind, relying on wind currents to carry pollen between flowers rather than insects.

Etymology

From Greek anemos (wind) plus philos (loving), meaning 'wind-loving.' The suffix -ous makes it an adjective describing the quality or characteristic.

Kelly Says

Anemophilous plants produce absolutely massive amounts of pollen—some birch trees release over a million pollen grains per day—because most of it just drifts away and never reaches another flower, so they compensate by producing enormous quantities!

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