Wind or water pollinated flowers are different from animal pollinated flowers in several ways:
The petals on wind or water pollinated flowers do not have to be very attractive or even they can be petal less. However, the animal pollinated flowers have vibrant and colorful petals due to which they attract animals.
They are also smaller in size and less conspicous than animal pollinated flowers. For example Oak flowers are wind pollinated and not very attractive flowers.
The petals of wind and water pollinated flowers are dull colored while those of animal pollinated are bright colored.
Wind and water pollinated flowers donot produce nectar to feed pollinators while animal pollinated flowers produce nectar for feeding pollinators.
The pollen grains of animal pollinated flowers are Small and sticky stigma while those of wind and water pollinated are feathery and large stigma to catch the pollen grains which are blown by wind.
Example of animal pollinated flowers are rose, sunflowers, etc while example of insect pollinated flower are barley, rice, corn and grasses.
Flowers of plants that are pollinated by animals such as birds or insects are usually colorful. Colours sometimes helped by coloured guiding marks attract animals. Also, flowers are often shaped to provide a landing platform for animals, especially insects or have scent to attract them. Flowers adapted to birds’ pollination are often long-shaped with lots of nectar.
When it comes to wind-pollinated (or water) plants, it is important for them to produce a huge amounts of pollen, to have small petals or no petals at all (like grass). Also, the stigmas of receiving flowers have to be sticky.
