The process in which pollen grains (the male gametophytes of phanerogamic plants) reach the female gametophyte is called pollination.
The main forms of pollination are: anemophily, in which pollen is carried by wind. Hydrophily, pollination helped by water; entomophily, pollen carried by insects; ornitophily, pollination by birds; chiropterophily, pollen dissemination by bats.
Characteristics of the flowers of each plant species relate to the type of pollination used by the plant. Colored flowers are specialized in bird and insect attraction; nocturnal flowers generally are white and perfumed, many specialized in pollination by bats; the nectar is also a specialization to attract pollinator animals; flowers that produce an exaggerated amount of pollen often use the wind as pollinator; the position of anthers more external or internal next to the nectar is a way to facilitate the pollen dissemination respectively by the wind or by animals.
