From each plant one randomly chosen, fresh flower was dissected under a binocular microscope to separate the corolla, androecium and gynoecium. |
A flower is hypogynous if the perianth and androecium are inserted around the base of the gynoecium. |
The androecium of each flower had dehisced on the morning of sampling. |
In the genus Mitella the androecium can exceptionally be more variable, ranging from obdiplostemonous to haplostemonous arrangements. |
Only at a fairly late developmental stage does the corolla finally overtop the androecium and gynoecium. |
Growth of the corolla and androecium show a dorso-ventral asymmetry that also results in zygomorphy. |