In Our Time: Pollination

Since plants have to mate and produce offspring while rooted to the spot, they have to be pollinated - by wind, water, or animals - most commonly insects. They use a surprising array of tricks to attract pollinators - striking colours, iridescent light effects and enticing scents, to name but a few. Insects, on the other hand, do not seek to pollinate plants - they are looking for food, so plants make sure it's worth their while. Insects are also remarkably sophisticated in their ability to find, recognise and find their way inside flowers. For these reasons, pollination has evolved as a complex dance between plants and pollinators that is essential for life on Earth to continue