NOTEAspects of floral development in Caladium bicolor (Araceae)

Abstract

In the spadix of Caladium, there is a clearly recognizable intermediate zone consisting of sterile male flowers. The transition between the female zone and the male sterile zone is more or less abrupt. During the early stages of development of the inflorescence, a few atypical bisexual flowers between the female zone and the male sterile zone are recognizable. These atypical flowers display a variety of forms. However, in all cases, the staminate portion of the flower is located near the male zone and the gynoecial portion near the female zone. The undeveloped synandroidral portion and the rudimentary gynoecium belong to the same meristematic unit and can be viewed as a single whorl. The early stages of development of atypical bisexual flowers in Caladium and Philodendron are relatively similar and therefore represent an intermediate form between female and male sterile flowers.Key words: inflorescence, homeosis, gradient, flower.