Anatomical Structure Observation of Inflorescence and Flower in Elaeis guineensis

In order to understand the structural characteristics of inflorescence and flowers of Elaeis guineensis, the morphological characteristics of inflorescence and flower of E. guineensis were observed under stereomicroscope, and anatomical observation was conducted by frozen and paraffin section technique under optical microscope. The findings reveals that E. guineensis is monoecious, but male and female inflorescences occur separately on the same plant. Inflorescence is axillary, spadix, wrapped by 2 layers of bracts, composed by many spikelets. The female flower has 6 petals and 1 pistil, stigma is wet column cap, style is open type. Flower has 3 carpels and 3 locules. There is one ovule in each locule. And a large number of vascular bundles are scattered in the flower stalk. The male flower has 3 sepals, 3 petals and 6 stamens. Each anther contains 4 pollen sacs which are separated by connective. The pollen morphology is similar to triangle or ellipse, flower stalk mainly contains epidermis, basic tissue and vascular bundle, and there are a lot of vascular bundles and fibers for providing nutrients and supporting in flower stalk. In summary, the morphological characteristics of inflorescence and flower of E. guineensis accord with the basic characteristics of palm plants, but there are differences in the sex of inflorescence and anatomical structure of flower with other palms, like coconut, areca nut and date palm.