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The colourful corona of
Stapelia flavopurpurea.
Outer corona (Yellow with purple tip) and
Inner corona (Pink with horned appendages)
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The corona (Crown) is a
characteristic androecial derived structure found in
Asclepiadaceae flowers of variable form, colour and dimension ,
which is incorporated in the
gynostegium
(a complex fusion-product of androecium and gynoecium). The
corona typically consists of inner and outer lobes.
- Inner corona: Usually the inner corona parts are inclined
against the staminal column (a structure formed by the fusion
of the stamens).
- Outer corona: Outer corona lobes lie flat in the
base of corolla or they are budged away from the column. They
can be larger than the inner one or so reduced that they can’t
even be found.
The unique and complex structures of corona and
gynostegium are
extremely elaborated and very dissimilar in different genera
and species (Eventually
variously keeled, horned and/or shaped ) and they
are the most important factor for Asclepiadaceae classification.
For other meaning of
the word "Corona" see:
Crown See also:
Asclepiadaceae flower anatomy |
