This is a relatively old message that I'm not sure was answered (except
for a few good jokes). I think Matt posted the question?
Matt, many plant species are dioecious (i.e. there are male and female
individuals) such as Cottonwood trees, Gingko trees, Kiwi-fruit trees,
Jojoba, and I think asparagus to name a few. Nepenthes also, of course.
On most plants like this, the only way to sex the plant is when it is
flowering. Then all you must do is examine the flower to see if it is
pistillate (i.e. with a pistil=female) or staminate (i.e. stamens=> male).
>Last sunday when I hiked on the Kowloon Peak, I saw some plant that
>look similar to Pinguicula. The plants are in bloom. The flowers have
>5 petals(?) - 2 above and 3 below. The surface of the leaves is
You know, the plant could be one of many families. It could be in the
Violet family (_Violaceae_), or snapdragon family (_Scrophulariaceae_).
Are you familiar with the nature of the sexual organs of _Lentibulariaceae_
which contains the pings? Very distinctive. Two thick, short, curving
filaments bearing anthers are in the flower, in much the same geometry as
your thumb and index finger when you touch them. Hanging over this like
an apron is the female stigmatic surface.
Bad attempt at ascii drawing below. I don't know why I do these. They
take a long time to do, and the results always look like crap!
Barry
ATTACHED TO FLOWER
HERE
* * * *
* * * *
* * * * <---filament
* * * *
* * * *
*** ***
*** *** <---anthers
ATTACHED TO FLOWER
HERE
# . . . . #
# . . . . #
# . . . . #<---apron hanging over male bits
#. . . .#
# . . . . #
# ... ... #
# ... ... #
############