The flowers of Ascarina lucida Hook. f. (Chloranthaceae)

Abstract

Ascarina lucida is not dioecious as has been assumed but exhibits a peculiar type of monoecism. Biparous sessile cymes composed of simple unisexual flowers are, with very few exceptions, of two kinds. One stamen constitutes a male flower and commonly each is accompanied by two female flowers which mature distinctly later; on other compound inflorescences, a stamen and a single accompanying female flower mature almost simultaneously, so that the much reduced cyme resembles a bisexual flower. Similar cymes occur on plants from the Kermadec Islands (A. lucida var. lanceolata (Hook, f.) Allan).