obligate self-pollination

Obligate self-pollination, also known as selfing, is a botanical process where a flower is fertilized by pollen from the same flower or another flower on the same plant. While cross-pollination offers evolutionary advantages through genetic diversity, self-pollination can be crucial for species survival in stable environments or when pollinators are scarce. Some plants have evolved mechanisms to ensure self-pollination, such as flowers that never open (cleistogamy) or pollen being shed before the flower opens. In some cases, plants may even twist their structures to facilitate self-pollination. This strategy allows plants to thrive in environments with limited pollinators or when individuals are widely spaced.1234