Window flowers
David Ehrlich (Thu, 04 Nov 2010 11:52:39 PDT)

Dear members,

Has anyone done an investigation into why some flowers develop windows in their
petals?  I came to that question this morning when I noticed a late bloom on my
Cypella herbertii (yes, they do have an exceedingly long season, but we've been
having unseasonably warm and wet weather lately here on the S.F. Peninsula).  I
noticed that the portion of the outer tepals which form the cup are
transparent.  In most photos this portion looks white, but it is actually
hyaline (or at any rate, it was on this morning's blossom).  There are other
plants noted for transparent windows in their petals.  Are there any theories
about how these might have evolved?

David E.