What strategies do plants adopt to favour cross-pollination?

Answer 1

Most plants ensure that their anthers and stigmae ripen at different times so that self fertilization is unlikely. Then there are the many strategies for ensuring that pollen travels to other flowers. If the plant relies on the wind to do this, it produces enormous amounts of pollen to increase the chances of some reaching its goal. The reproductive parts often hang out of the flower so they are exposed to the wind. Other plants produce showy flowers, strong scents and supplies of nectar to attract the animals (such as insects) which will carry the pollen to other plants. Many flowers have the nectar deep inside to make sure the insects brush against the reproductive organs as they go in and out.

Answer 2

Plants can favor cross-pollination by producing flowers that have structures that encourage pollen transfer by wind, insects, birds, or other animals. Other strategies include producing pollen and ovules at different times to prevent self-fertilization and having physical barriers to prevent self-pollination, such as having separate male and female flowers on the same plant or on different plants.