What exactly is pollination? how does it work? ...
adjectives to do with the birds and the bees
You are correct.
Quote: Pollination is an essential segment of sexual reproduction in seed-producing plants (spermatophytes), allowing for genetic recombination and the formation of a genetically incomparable seed. This shuffling of DNA maximizes the faculty of at least some of a plant's litter to survive in a world of unpredictable environmental change. Further, the maintenance of genetic mutability in a population is vital for evolution by natural inspection to occur, and consequently is the key to the facility of a plant population to adapt to varying environmental pressures. Unquote.
The LINK below provides extensive details on the various types of pollination. Basically, pollination assures the reproduction of plants which instigate in a pod (seed).
Answers: Plants can also multiply by sending out runner roots that can put up shoots.
Some layer themselves which is when a branch or growing tip of the plant touches the ground and produces roots, this consequently forms another plant.
Plants that do this generally also reproduce by the pollination/seed method as in good health.
Ferns are very different, they do not own pollen or seeds.
They produce asexual spores which are held contained by sacs which can be see under they leaves.