Young flower 2 (SEM)
Margins indicated by white dots adnate and form a pouch at subsequent stage.
Slight touch to petals brings about explosive pollen dispersal
| Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lam.：floral development・pollen dispersal |
Cross section of flower at calyx tube
Hairs from petals prevent nectar drop. Pistil is in the center.
Petals and stamens
Immature petals can be opened by pressing the base. Anthers are precociously
opened. Level of the anthers are different.
Young stamens
One of the filaments is curved by cell degeneration. Further degeneration
brings about coiling creating physical pressure inside the petal..
Primordial floral elements (SEM)
From top to bottom are calyx tube, petal primordia, stamen primordia and
pistil primordium.
Flower: side
Red calyx tube (upper portion in photo) and calyx lobes attract birds.
Flowers are pendulous.
Flower: upper side
Petals are pouched. Each petal encloses two stamens. Pollen is explosively
dispersed by a slight contact with each petal.