Flowers of Welwitschia

a. Male Strobilus and Male Flower:-

- A male or microsporangiate strobilus or male cone is a compound structure bearing a quadrangular cone axis. It contains several bracts or cone scales arranged in opposite decussate manner. In the axil of each subtending bract is present a male flower.

- Two lateral bracts and a perianth are also present in each male flower. The perianth is formed from two bract-like anterior-posteriorly placed structures.

- Inner to the perianth is present a whorl of six micro-sporangiophores which remain fused at the base to form a cup-like structure. A sterile ovule with a single integument is present in the centre of each male flower.

- At the top of each micro-sporangiophore is present a synangium. Each synangium is formed by the fusion of three microsporangia. Each microsporangium contains many pollen grains which are shed through a vertical slit. Pollination is effected either by wind or by insects.

b. Female Strobilus and Female Flower:-

- The female strobilus, also called ovulate or megasporangiate strobilus or ovuliferous cone is also a compound structure like male cone. The axis of the female strobilus bears many broad decussate bracts or cone scales, in the axil of each of which is present a female flower.

- Inside the subtending bract of each female flower are present two small lateral bracts, two envelopes and a single nucellus. Out of the two envelopes the inner one functions as a true integument, and prolongs in the form of a long tubular micropyle.

- The outer envelope develops from two posterior-anterior primordia which fuse with each other in the early stages of the development. Some prefer to call this fusion product as perianth The perianth expands into a broad wing-like structure in the mature seed.