Angiosperms - Dicots
> Couroupita guianensis Aubl.
Couroupita guianensis Aubl.
(Li Ming Chun)
Updated on 30/04/2021
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This is Couroupita guianensis Aubl., also known as the Cannon Ball Tree. It is classified under the family of Lecythidaceae (Brazil nut family). The inflorescence is belong to raceme. The flower does not produce any nectar. The structure of the androecium is special to this family. Fertile stamens appear as a ring structure located around the style, with the unilateral prolongation located on one side of the ring. The unilateral prolongation bears the staminodes (sterile stamen) that containing antherodes (anther of staminodes), which produce pollens that does not germinates. The flower produce aroma that attract the pollinators. Also. the yellow color on the apex of the staminodes helps direct the pollinators to the sterile pollen, including carpenter bees (Xylocopa brasilianorum), which feed their larvae with the sterile pollens they gathered. This facilitate the cross pollination as bees will carry fertile pollens to another flower. The flower will produce cannon ball-like fruits, which gives the plant the name of Cannon Ball Tree. You can find the drawing of this plant here: http://sweetgum.nybg.org/images3/107/255/CourGuiaAngell.jpg Ref: https://www.nybg.org/blogs/plant-talk/2013/01/science/the-cannon-ball-tree/
Nice input and very detailed description. Well-done!
Can you explain further about how 'the yellow color on the apex of the staminodes helps direct the pollinators to the sterile pollen'?
Thank you for your comment! The reason why the yellow color on the apex of the staminodes helps direct the pollinators to the sterile pollen can be explained by the color perception in bees! Although in humans' eyes, the red colored petals are far more attractive than the tiny bit of yellow on the staminodes. In bees' eyes, that's a different story! Although both bees and humans are trichromats (three types of color-sensitive cell on the retina), bees do not have red cone cells like human. Bees cannot see the red color on the petals, because they don't have the cone cell for it! However, some reddish wavelength, such as yellow, can be seen. Therefore, the yellow color on the apex on the staminodes are more attractive than the other parts of the flower, which help directing bees to that location.
by Li Ming Chun
petal , sepal , pileus , pistil , suspensor , stipe , epidermis , ovule , Labellum , stamen
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