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That means they can pass pollen around within a single flower, or from one flower to another on the same plant. Peas, peanuts, and sunflowers are some self-pollinating plants. Most plants rely on cross-pollina- tion, however, and must get their pollen from a different plant of the same species.

The pollination process.

Some plants are able to self-pollinate in a pinch, but they prefer to cross-pollinate. Cross-pollination is desirable be- cause it produces more genetic diversity. If the members of a species are all a little different from each other, it makes the species healthier and stronger overall. Plants that have been cross-pollinated also tend to make more of whatev- er they make—whether it’s apples or avocadoes—and the fruit is larger. There are several things that can act as pollinators. For example, the wind can pick up pollen and blow it on to the next plant. Many grain crops, such as wheat and corn, use wind pollination. Water can also be a pollinator. However, about three-fourths of the world’s plants need dedicated animal pollinators to do the job. These include bees, butterflies, beetles, birds, bats, flies, and moths. In some places, even lizards and lemurs work as pollinators!

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