Metalasia erubescens tiny florets

Close-up, a Metalasia erubescens inflorescence reveals a flat-topped, compact cluster of cylindrical bract-covered flowerheads at a stem-tip. Each head contains a few five-lobed disc florets. Each floret has its inner petaloid bracts ending in erect pointed lobe tips around five fused stamens with tailed anthers and a linear style ending in two stigma branches. It is more the colourful aggregate than the tubular florets, the separate reproductive units that appears floral.

The pollinating insects service several florets in quick succession during one visit. More work, less travel saves time and energy. The insets will almost always find some florets shedding pollen, as well as some with receptive stigmas in the same inflorescence (Bean and Johns, 2005; iNaturalist).