Pollination

Most modern gymnosperms and many angiosperms are pollinated by wind. Wind-pollinated flowers, such as those of the grasses, usually have exposed stamens, so that the light pollen grains can be carried by the wind.

Wind pollination is a primitive condition, and large amounts of pollen are usually wasted, because it does not reach female reproductive organs. For this reason, most wind-pollinated plants are found in temperate regions, where individuals of the same species often grow close together. Conversely, there are very few wind pollinated plants in the tropics, where plants of the same species tend to be farther apart.