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Young hermaphrodite (left) and female flowers (right) |
Older hermaphrodite (left) and female flowers (right) |
| The difference between female and hermaphrodite plants: it’s all in the flowers. Hermaphrodite flowers are larger and have distinctive blue pollen. The female flowers are smaller and their anthers are nonfunctional and don't release any blue pollen. |
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Bright blue pollen on the anthers of a hermaphrodite flower |
Small, non-functioning anthers of a female flower |
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Yellow stigma |
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Stages of the flowers
As a flower ages there are several sexual phases it will go through. There are some general changes in the flowers that enable you to tell how old the flower is. Here we outline and show these changes: |
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Young bud: bud unopened, green, may have a touch of purple or red on the sepals. |
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Female flower |
Hermaphrodite flower |
Young flower in the early phase: Stigma bright yellow, glossy, and receptive to pollen (i.e. pollen that is placed on the stigma will germinate and grow). Anthers are closed. The outside and inside of the floral tube is usually green, but may be tinged with purple or red. There is lots of nectar in the flower for visiting birds
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Female flower |
Hermaphrodite flower |
| Female flower in the ‘middle phase’: Stigma darkens – yellow/red. The green flower tube usually starts to change colour and have more purple or red over it. No viable anthers on the flowers so no release of pollen. Lots of nectar in the flower for visiting birds. |
Hermaphrodite flower in the ‘middle phase’: Stigma darkens – yellow/red. The anthers dehisce (open) and release bright blue pollen. The green flower tube usually starts to change and have more purple or red colour. Lots of nectar in the flower for visiting birds. |
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Female flower |
Hermaphrodite flower |
| Flower in the transitional phase: Stigma red/yellow. The pollen on the anthers may be all gone, and if there’s any left it will be fading to a grey-blue. Flower tube more red/purple than green in colour. No nectar in the flower. |
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Female flower |
Hermaphrodite flower |
| Very old flower: The withering floral tube (complete with attached stigma and anthers) has fallen from the plant leaving the green developing fruit on the tree. |
photos by Matt Walters 
