ANATOMY OF HIBISCUS (GUMAMELA)

 Corolla- is the colorful section that attracts animals and insects. The corolla has two different
parts, the petals and the corolla lobes. This attraction helps ensure the pollination of the flower.
Gumamela petals, also called corolla, number five on nearly all gumamela flowers. They tend to
be short and have a single lobe. Many breeders have developed gumamela plants that have long,
flat stamens that look like petals in order to make the flower look fuller. Petals, dried or fresh,
are used in many gumamela treatments, according to Philippine Herbal Medicine.

 Calyx – made up of sepals that protect the bud in infancy and form the base of the flower.

 Stamen – that make up the male reproductive parts – in turn made up of the filament that holds
up the pollen sac or anther. The gumamela's stamen tube is attached to the anthers and creates a
long, thin tube called the stamina column. Gumamelas are the only flower with a stamina
column.
 Anther- it releases pollen when open. The male part of the flower, and are connected to the
pollen sac of the flower. They protrude from the flower and have fuzzy tips. While most flowers
only have four or five anthers, the gumamela has dozens of them.

 Pistil – The female reproductive parts of a flower. These are also made up of three components
 Ovary – that finally forms the seed after fertilization. The ovary is a superior ovary. This
means the petals are under the ovary instead of them all being encompasses by the
stamen.
 Style – a stalk above the ovary. The section that the pollen travels down to the ovary. It
branches out into the stamina and each branch attaches to the stamens. This is where the
flower is fertilized.
 Stigma – the farthest extend of the female part of the flower which receives the pollen for
fertilization. This is usually sticky and allows pollen to attach. They contain flower
ovules, where the pollen lands. The fertilized ovules will turn into seeds later in the
growth process. It is where pollen is collected and it at the top of the pistil

Detail of a hibiscus stamen (male) and pistil (female)

Close-up of the reproductive organs of a Hibiscus flower. The yellow stamens and the red
pistils.

The stigma of a Hibiscus flower, with pollen on them.