Types of Pollination
Pollination Type↕ | Agent↕ | Flower Traits↕ | Example Plants↕ | Known For↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Entomophily (insect) | Bees, beetles, butterflies, flies | Colorful, scented, nectar-rich | Apple, almond, sunflower, lavender | Most common animal pollination, honeybees alone pollinate ~$15B of US crops |
Melittophily (bee) | Bees | Blue/yellow, UV guides, landing platform | Clover, blueberry, lavender, snapdragon | Bees see ultraviolet, flowers have hidden UV bullseyes to guide them |
Psychophily (butterfly) | Butterflies | Bright, tubular, daytime nectar | Butterfly bush, milkweed, lantana | Butterflies feed by day, long proboscis reaches deep tubular flowers |
Phalaenophily (moth) | Moths | White, night-open, heavily scented | Evening primrose, jasmine, yucca | Night-blooming pale flowers release strong scent to attract nocturnal moths |
Cantharophily (beetle) | Beetles | Large, bowl-shaped, fruity/fermented scent | Magnolia, water lily, pawpaw | Oldest form of insect pollination, dates back to Cretaceous, beetles chew through flowers |
Myophily (fly) | Flies | Often drab or carrion-scented | Rafflesia, carrion flower, skunk cabbage | Some flowers mimic rotting meat to lure flies, world's largest flower Rafflesia uses this |
Ornithophily (bird) | Hummingbirds, sunbirds, honeyeaters | Red, tubular, odorless, abundant nectar | Hibiscus, fuchsia, bird of paradise, aloe | Birds lack smell, flowers are bright red with no scent, big nectar volumes |
Chiropterophily (bat) | Nectar-feeding bats | Large, pale, night-open, musty scent | Agave, baobab, durian, saguaro cactus | Tequila depends on bat pollination of blue agave, durians follow suit |
Anemophily (wind) | Wind | Small, inconspicuous, no nectar, feathery stigmas | Grasses, wheat, oak, birch, corn | Produce vast amounts of lightweight pollen, the main source of hay fever |
Hydrophily (water) | Water currents | Reduced petals, buoyant pollen or filaments | Seagrass, Vallisneria, eelgrass | Rare strategy, used by some aquatic plants, pollen drifts on water surface or submerged |
Autogamy (self) | Self-pollination | Closed or cleistogamous flowers | Peas, beans, peanuts, wheat | Plant pollinates itself, guarantees seed set but reduces genetic diversity |
Geitonogamy | Between flowers of same plant | Multi-flower inflorescences | Many crops and orchids | Pollinator moves pollen between flowers of the same plant, still genetically self |
Allogamy (cross) | Any external vector | Often dioecious or self-incompatible | Holly, kiwifruit, papaya | Male and female on different plants force cross-pollination and genetic mixing |
Buzz pollination | Bumblebees and native bees | Poricidal anthers | Tomato, blueberry, eggplant, kiwifruit | Bees vibrate at ~400 Hz to shake pollen loose, honeybees cannot do it |
Pseudocopulation | Male insects | Flowers mimic female insect shape and pheromone | Ophrys bee orchids | Flowers look and smell like female wasps, males try to mate and pollinate by accident |
Trap pollination | Flies, beetles | Trap chambers with slippery walls | Arum, Dutchman's pipe, Titan arum | Flowers trap visitors for hours until they deposit pollen, then release them |
Free to explore · No signup needed
Frequently asked questions
How is the Types Of Pollination list ranked?
The Types of Pollination list is currently sorted by the source data's default ordering. Community voting is not enabled on this dataset.
How many entries are in this Types Of Pollination dataset?
This dataset contains 16 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
Can I download the Types Of Pollination data?
Yes. The download buttons at the top of the page give you the full 16-row dataset as CSV, JSON, or Excel. Use of the data is permitted under a Creative Commons Attribution license — credit dtbse.com when you republish.
Related Datasets
More in Science
Famous Biology Experiments
Mendel's peas, Miller-Urey's primordial soup, Hershey-Chase blender or CRISPR - which breakthrough shaped biology the most?
Human Evolutionary Tree
The evolutionary lineage of Homo sapiens from the earliest possible hominins 7 million years ago to modern humans. Includes ancestors, cousin species, and extinct side branches with brain sizes, regions, and key traits.
Human Evolution — Complete Timeline of Hominin Species
Every known hominin species from Sahelanthropus tchadensis 7 million years ago to modern Homo sapiens. Includes brain sizes, height estimates, geographic range, tool use, and what makes each species significant in the story of human evolution. The most comprehensive hominin species list available as structured data.
Types of Microscopes
Light, electron, scanning probe or fluorescence - which microscope revolutionized how we see the invisible?
Types of Lightning
Cloud-to-ground, ball lightning, sprites or blue jets - which electrical phenomenon in the sky is the most terrifying?
Space Agencies & Companies
NASA, SpaceX, ESA, ISRO — the organizations racing to the stars, ranked by the earthlings watching.
Types of Rocks and Minerals
20 major rock types and minerals covering igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic classifications with hardness, uses, and key facts.
Types of Astronomical Phenomenon
Solar eclipses, supernovae, black hole mergers — which cosmic event is the most awe-inspiring?
Scientific Breakthroughs
Transformative scientific discoveries that reshaped our understanding of the world, from heliocentrism to CRISPR gene editing.
Famous Mathematical Constants
Pi, e, phi or i - which mathematical constant is the most beautiful number in the universe?
Nobel Prize in Physics Winners
All Nobel Prize in Physics laureates with year and country.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Winners
All Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureates with year and country.