What is wind pollination?

Wind pollination occurs when the pollen from flowers is transported by the wind. It is also known as anemophily, and it occurs every day to pollinate crops and trees.

Wind pollination pollinates many of the world's crops, such as corn, rye, oats and barley. Wind pollination also pollinates pine trees, spruce trees, firs and many hardwood trees. Wind-pollinated plants are evolutionarily different than insect-pollinated plants. Plants that are pollinated by insects have adapted to grow showy flowers and have enticing scents to lure bees and other insects, whereas plants pollinated by wind do not need showy structures to attract insects.