In botany, pollination that occurs when pollen grains are transported from one flower to another by the action of wind is called what?

Introduction / Context:
Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther of a flower to the stigma of the same or another flower, leading to fertilization and seed formation. Different agents such as wind, water, insects, and animals can carry pollen. Each mode of pollination has a specific name in botany, and identifying these terms helps students understand plant reproductive strategies and adaptations to different environments.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question asks for the term used when wind carries pollen from flower to flower.
Options include hydrophily, entomophily, anemophily, and zoophily.
We assume standard botanical nomenclature based on the pollinating agent.
The focus is strictly on wind as the pollination agent.

Concept / Approach:
The term anemophily refers to pollination by wind. The root anemo relates to wind, as in anemometer, an instrument that measures wind speed. Anemophilous plants typically produce small, inconspicuous flowers with large quantities of light, dry pollen that can be carried over long distances by air currents. Hydrophily refers to pollination by water. Entomophily is pollination by insects. Zoophily is pollination by animals, often vertebrates such as birds or bats. Since the question is specifically about wind, the correct term is anemophily.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the pollinating agent in the question, which is wind. Step 2: Recall the meanings of the terms hydrophily, entomophily, anemophily, and zoophily. Step 3: Note that anemophily literally means love of wind and is used for wind pollinated plants. Step 4: Select anemophily as the correct term describing wind pollination.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on botany often classify plants according to their pollination agents. They list examples like grasses, maize, and many trees as anemophilous, describing features such as exposed stamens and feathery stigmas that capture wind borne pollen. The same texts define hydrophily for aquatic plants and entomophily for insect pollinated plants. Reviewing these definitions confirms that anemophily is the term for wind pollination.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Hydrophily means pollination by water and is seen in some aquatic plants, not in plants that rely on air currents.
Entomophily is pollination carried out by insects such as bees, butterflies, and beetles, which is different from wind pollination.
Zoophily refers to pollination by animals, typically larger animals like birds or bats that visit flowers for nectar or pollen.

Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes mix up the terms because they sound similar and all end in phily. It helps to link the prefixes with familiar words: anemo with wind instruments, hydro with water, entomo with insects, and zoo with animals. This association makes it easier to choose the correct term under exam pressure when asked about specific pollination agents.

Final Answer:
Pollination by wind is called Anemophily.