Asclepias praemorsa buds and early flower opening

Between Asclepias praemorsa buds and early open flowers, expect a revelation! The corona and later the staminal column of the flower centre are revealed in anthesis, flower opening.

In mature Asclepias flowers, the stamens (male) are fused with the stigmatic disc (female). Together they form the prominent gynostegium of the flower centre. It includes the staminal column encircled by the five corona lobes (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).