Petals / Small and inconspicuous, usually green or dull in colour / Usually large and colourful, red or orange, often form a tubular shape, sometimes no petals at all / Usually large and colourful, yellow or blue, may be shaped to encourage specific pollinators
Scent / Usually absent / Rarely fragrant because birds have little sense of smell / Often present because insects are highly attracted to scents
Nectar / None / Large amounts of nectar produced in nectars at base of flower / Sometimes produced at base of petals so insect must enter the flower to reach the nectar
Anthers / Anthers protrude outside the flower so pollen is easily blown off by the wind; abundant amount of pollen is produced / Commonly lower than stigma, sometimes not enclosed by any petals and often colourful / Enclosed within flower, commonly lower than stigma
Stigma / Stigma protrudes from the flower, it is often long, feathery and sticky to increase surface area for trapping the wind-borne pollen / Higher than anthers, sometimes not enclosed by petals and often colourful / Enclosed within flower, sticky and commonly higher above the anthers
Pollen / Very small grains, light and powdery; large amounts produced / Sticky or powdery pollen, small amount produced / Relatively large grains and often sticky, small amount produced
Comparing Features of Pollinating Flowers