The Mechanics of the Grass Flower: Anther Dehiscence and Pollen Shedding in Maize

In this paper on the flower mechanics of the grasses, the openingmechanism of the maize anther is studied. Both the septum betweeneach two locules and the stomium of these porate-dehiscing anthersappear to be opened due to lysis of the middle lamellae of theircells. Additional mechanical force of the expanding pollen mightbe necessary to completely dissociate the parenchyma cells ofthe septum. A number of hours before anthesis the anther isstructurally able to dehisce. At anthesis the dehydrating endotheciumcells bend the locule walls bordering the pore in outward direction.Presumably evaporation is not the only cause for this dehydration. Poaceae; Zea mays ; flower; anther; dehiscence; endothecium; pollen