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Flower
Development in Potamogeton
Note the Acropetal Progression of Flower Development.This continues until the
entire FAM has differentiated into floral organs. This is called "Determinate"
growth because it has a limited growth potential.
 Young Flowering Apex: The Preianth (Calyx & Corolla) are the first primordia produced (FAM = Flowering Apical Meristem) |
 The Perianth Primordia have grown and Stamen Primordia have appeared. |
 Enlarged View of the Carpel Primordia which develop at the Summit of the Flower Apical Meristem. |
Pineapple is an exception because it can resume vegetative growth. Pineapples have a "crown" which contains small leaves and a shoot apical meristem. The crown can be removed and used to grow another plant.
 Pineapple Fruits: Note the Crowns on both plants. The crown of the immature fruit on the right contains many crownlets, each of which can regenerate another plant. |
 Pineapple plant which has produced Flowers and has resumed Vegetative Growth |
 SEM image of Pineapple Flowering Meristem: Note the Bracts which subtend the Flower Buds. Most of the Bracts have been removed from the older Flower Buds. |
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 SEM Image of a Pineapple Flower Primordium with Sepal Primordia. |
 Older Flower Primordium with Petal and Stamen Primordia Visible. |
In plants like Banana and Pineapple, a leafy bract is produced at each node and the Flower develops from an Axillary Bud. This is Homologous to vegetative branching. (Homologous = the Same).
