The pedicel of the female flower coils after pollination in
Viola
Centaurea
Silence
Vallisneria
Vallisneria is a genus of aquatic plants commonly known as eelgrass or tape grass. It is dioecious, meaning that male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. In the case of Vallisneria, the female flowers are typically found on long stalks called pedicels, which emerge from the underwater rosette of leaves.
After pollination occurs in Vallisneria, a fascinating phenomenon takes place. The pedicel of the female flower undergoes coiling or spiraling. This coiling action is an adaptive mechanism that aids in the dispersion of the fertilized seeds, or achenes, produced by the plant.
The coiling of the pedicel causes the fertilized flower to detach from the parent plant and float upwards towards the water's surface. This process helps to facilitate the dispersal of the seeds, allowing them to reach new areas where they can establish new plants.
The coiled pedicel acts like a spring, storing potential energy as it coils tightly. Eventually, when the tension in the pedicel becomes too great, it snaps, releasing the seeds into the water. The buoyancy of the seeds, combined with water currents, helps to carry them away from the parent plant and increase the chances of successful colonization in different areas.
This coiling and subsequent seed dispersal mechanism in Vallisneria is an example of an evolutionary adaptation that enhances the plant's reproductive success in aquatic environments.
Hence, the correct answer is option 4.