Leaf colour patterns, vegetative and sexual reproduction of Episcia ...

flower. At the base of the corolla tube a spur is present on the dorsal side. It serves for collecting
the secreted nectar.
The corolla has a pale lilac to pale blue colour. Sometimes it appears almost white. At the
entrance to the corolla tube a yellow blotch is present, which extends a few millimeter into the
tube. Sometimes the yellow spot is dotted with red. The outside of the tube is pilose.
The androecium is composed of 4 stamens, which are divided into a filament and a dithecal
anther with four pollen sacs. Dehiscence is by longitudinal slits. The stamens are inserted at the
base of the corolla tube. The filament bases are broad and adjacent to each other. They form a
sheath around the ovary. The four anthers are postgenitally united (Endress 1994). Two are fused
laterally and all four are united apically (Fig. 24). During the male phase the anthers are placed at
the entrance of the flower. This position is achieved by curving of the filaments.
Figure 24 Episcia lilacina; left: androecium, four anthers united postgenitally; right: closer view at two anthers,
dehiscence is by longitudinal slits.
The singular nectar gland lies dorsally towards the spur at the base of the ovary.
The ovoid ovary is superior, syncarpous and hirsute. The placentation is parietal with two
placentae. The ovules arise from the inner and outer surfaces of the placentae. During the male
stage (pollen release) the style has not reached its full length and the stigma is not receptive. At
the end of the male stage, the filaments coil and the anthers are drawn back from the corolla
entrance. The style starts growing in length so that the stigma reaches the same position the
anthers occupied before. The stigma is divided into two lateral lobes. The lobes’ surface is
covered with an area of papillae.
The flower smells slightly of cucumber.
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