Why do some plants produce cleistogamous and chasmogamous fl

Why do some plants produce cleistogamous and chasmogamous flowers? What is the difference between these two kinds of flowers?

Solution

The Cleistogamous flowers take less energy to reproduction. It also maximises the chance of reproduction, which is an important factor where the agents of pollination are scarce. Chasmogamous flowers provide variablity, hybrid vigour and generate better genotypes through recombination. Both of these strategies are useful in different environment. In unfavorable conditions (less pollinators, energy stress) cleistogamy would be favourable, and in other cases where no energy stress prevails, chsmogamy is advantageous.

Cleistogamy

Chasmogamous

The flowers remain closed. So, anthers and stigmas never exposed

The flowers open, exposing anthers and stigmas

The flowers undergo only self pollination

The flowers may undergo self pollination or cross pollination

The flowers are not much distinguishable

The flowers are prominent

Eg: peas, beans and some other grasses

Eg: Hibiscus, oxalis etc.,