National Botanic Gardens, Lucknow, India
Flowering in Gloriosa species starts from second week of July and continues upto the end of October. The individual flower is large, showy and change colour. Flowers are solitary and borne in extra-axillary regions which also form a lax-corymbose inflorescence. Healthy plants of Gloriosa usually produce 20–30 flowers in a season.
Flower opening becomes apparent a day prior to anthesis. During the course of process, bud enlarges and swells to its maximum. Next day perianths start to loose apart and curl upwards gradually. Consequently the bud opens. In Gloriosa species, flower opening occurs earlier than the anther and carpels are matured. Anther dehiscence in G. superba starts from 8.30 to 9.00 A.M. and stigma become receptive next day by about 9.00 A.M. to 10.30 A.M. and remain so for 27–32 hours.
Pollen fertility in the elemental species is higher but seed setting varies greatly. G. superba, G. lutea, G. carsonii, G. virescens and G. rothschildiana were found setting seed abundantly while G. richmondensis did not produce seeds either by selfing or cross pollinations.
