PN-5862 



Figure 4. — Female flowers of D. trifida. 



Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants 

 (dioecism), although monoic and hermaphroditic plants are rare 

 (8)' The male inflorescence, of which two usually occur at a node, 

 consists of simple racemes or branched panicles, often complex, 

 up to 80 centimeters in length. The flowers are only 4 to 6 milli- 

 meters in width and 6 to 7 millimeters in length. Each consists of 

 six green perianth segments in two series, and six fertile stamens. 

 The female flowers occur in racemes, usually paired, up to 20 

 centimeters in length. The flower is up to 14 millimeters in length 

 because of the presence of a long, inferior ovary (fig. 4). The 

 perianth resembles that of the male. The style is conical with three 

 reflexed tubular stigmas. Six staminodes are present. Many differ- 



6 



