ABSTRACT
Anthecology encompasses the study of flower and pollination ecology. The ecology of a flower in such a sense is limited to its morphology, considered to be part of the adaptive value of various structures to cross-pollination by different agents or to self-pollination. The ecology of pollination is characterized by other approaches to a problem. The pollination ecology should be studied in ecological-geographical and biocenotic aspects, in different biotic areas of the corresponding biogeocenosis. Protandry covering all individuals ensures strict cross-pollination and completely excludes geitonogamy. The wide distribution of gynodioecy among flowering plants is probably connected with the opportunity for successful combination of cross-pollination and self-pollination. The flowers occur in male and female phases in turn. This is regarded as an adaptation to cross-pollination. The pollinators first visit flowers in female phase with receptive stigma and will only later be covered by pollen from younger, higher flowers in male phase with open anthers.
