Malacophily

Transfer of pollen grains by snails and slugs is known as malacophily.

Malacophily is the transfer of pollen grains by snails and slugs.

• It is a type of animal-mediated pollination.
• The pollinating agents in this case are snails and slugs, which belong to the molluscan group.
• This mode of pollination is much less common than pollination by insects, wind, or birds.

Malaco = mollusc-related; therefore, malacophily = pollination involving molluscs such as snails and slugs.

Examples:

The material lists the following plants as examples of malacophily:

• Chrysanthemum leucanthemum – a land plant example.
• Lemna – an aquatic plant example.

• A snail or slug moves over the flower surface while feeding or crawling.
• During contact with the flower, pollen grains may stick to its body.
• When the animal reaches another flower, some pollen may be transferred to the stigma.
• In this way, pollination takes place.

• Malacophily is the transfer of pollen by snails and slugs (molluscs); e.g., Chrysanthemum leucanthemum (land) and Lemna (aquatic).
• It is a type of animal-mediated pollination, much less common than by insects, wind, or birds.
• As a snail or slug crawls or feeds over a flower, pollen sticks to its body and is carried to another flower.
• On reaching the next flower, some pollen is deposited on the stigma, completing pollination.