Unknown #44

Unknown # 44

Before attempting to key out the family of this beautiful flower, you should be familiar with the terms inferior, superior and hypanthium. This family is characterized by 4 petals, 4 sepals and 8 stamens attached to the rim of an hypanthum at the summit of an inferior (epigynous) ovary. The pollen grains of this interesting genus often adhere in thread-like filaments (like delicated strands of a spider's web).

This family is characterized by flowers with inferior ovaries (epigynous) with a tubular hypanthium above the ovary (right diagram).

Hypanthium: A cup-shaped structure surrounding the ovary and formed by a fusion of the bases of the perianth segments (petals and sepals). Some references state that the hypanthium may also contain tissue from the receptacle. In the apple (a pome), the thickened, fleshy hypanthium is fused with the ovary wall (seed-bearing core). When you eat an apple, you are primarily biting into the hypanthium tissue.

See The Fleshy Hypanthium Of An Apple

Superior: Refers to a ovary that is above the attachment of the petals, sepals and stamens, and is free from the receptacle. A perigynous ovary within a cup-shaped hypanthium is superior if it is completely free from the outer hypanthium.

Inferior: Refers to an ovary that is below the attachment of the petals, sepals and stamens. The hypanthium may be fused to the ovary wall or attached to the top of the ovary. The ovary of an apple is inferior because it is fused with a thick, fleshy hypanthium. Stamens, petals and sepals arise from the top of the hypanthium (on top of the apple).

Flowering branch showing the calyx, corolla, hypanthium and ovary. This species is a perennial that is commonly cultivated in gardens.

Close-up view of the inferior (epigynous) ovary showing the slender hypanthium and sepals. An average leaf is about 6.5 cm long.

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