The anatomy of the bizarre style of Canna
indica is analyzed functionally and comparatively within
Zingiberales, particularly in relation to the presence of two
stigma-like areas, one apical and the other lateral and
subapical. We asked whether these areas have separate
receptive or adhesive functions and whether they are
derived from a single stigma that previously had both
functions. We expected that the mechanism of pollen
transference would be highly effective at the flower level,
i.e., that pollen limitation would affect fruit set rather than
seed set.