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Why do many members of Rosales have small inconspicuous flowers?
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Rosales
Red garden roses (Rosa hybrid). Whereas wild roses have only five petals, most hybrid varieties have been bred to produce numerous petals in a wide range of colours.
Many members of the order Rosales possess small, inconspicuous flowers because they rely on wind pollination rather than insects.
Unlike insect-pollinated plants, which require showy petals, fragrance, and nectar to attract pollinators, wind-pollinated species are devoid of these features. By lacking these structures, the flowers are better adapted to release pollen directly into the breeze. This strategy often involves placing flowers high on the plant or blooming before leaves emerge in the spring to ensure the wind can easily carry the pollen. Plants such as elms and nettles, which are members of the order Rosales, utilize this method of reproduction.1