The timing of nectar secretion in staminal and staminodial glands in Lauraceae.

The flowers of many Lauraceae have two kinds of glandular organ: paired glands at the base of the filaments of the third androecial whorl, and staminodes with a glandular head, corresponding to a fourth, sterile androecial whorl. So far, it is unknown why there are two different kinds of organ with apparently the same function. Observations now show that the staminal and the staminodial glands secrete nectar at different times in the heterodichogamous flowering cycle, and are therefore essential for the pollination of bisexual Lauraceae flowers.