Flowers and seeds
Cutaway view of a Sarracenia flower
Flowers are produced early in spring, with or slightly ahead of the
first pitchers. They are held singly on long stems, generally well above
the pitcher traps to avoid the trapping of potential
pollinators.
The flowers, which depending on species are 3–10 centimeters in
diameter, are dramatic and have an elaborate design which prevents
self-pollination. It consists of five
sepals superintended by three
bracts, numerous anthers, and an
umbrella-like five-pointed
style, over which five long yellow or red
petals dangle. The whole flower is held upside-down, so that the umbrella-like style catches the
pollen dropped by the
anthers. The
stigmas are located at the tips of the umbrella-like style. The primary pollinators are
bees. Bees searching for
nectar
must force their way past one of the stigmas to enter the chamber
formed by the style. Inside, they will inevitably come in contact with a
lot of pollen, both from the hanging anthers and from the pollen
collected by the style. Upon exiting, the bees must force their way
under one of the flap-like petals. This keeps them away from the stigma,
avoiding self-pollination. The next flower visited receives on its
stigmata some of the first flower's pollen, and the cycle continues.
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