Picture of an autogamous plant (Strigaasiatica)

Some plants have opted for autonomous pollination methods, not relying on exterior vectors for transportation of the pollen grains. These plants are said to be autogamous. In these plants the pollen grains are germinated and woven through and glued to the stigma by the pollen tubes before the flower opens. This process results in a very effective pollination method, but this, in turn, requires the production of fewer pollen grains, and as a consequence, fewer grains are dispersed. For this reason, grains from autogamous plants are heavily underrepresented in the fossil record.