Asclepias eminens erect corona
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch
Inside the Asclepias eminens flower the five-lobed corona surrounds the shorter staminal column and stigmatic area like five protective pillars.
The corona possibly originates with the male floral parts and may be where the pollinators access nectar. The five corona lobe tips, like three-pointed, up-turned hoods, are whitish and purple-dotted inside (Monteiro and Demarco, 2017: Corona development and floral nectaries of Asclepiadeae (Asclepiadoideae, Apocynaceae). Acta Botanica Brasilica, 31(3): 420-432; Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; JSTOR; iNaturalist).