False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the male reproductive structure, or anther, of the Crown of Thorns flower Euphorbia milii, also known as

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False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the male reproductive structure, or anther, of the Crown of Thorns flower Euphorbia milii, also known as E. splendens. The two-lobed anther (orange) is supported on a filament (green) and is splitting open to reveal pollen grains (yellow). The Crown of Thorns is a popular houseplant; its common name reflecting the fact that it is a thorny shrub bearing red flowers. The 'flowers' of Euphorbia are a complex inflorescence called a cyathium. In this species the cyathium consists of a central female flower surrounded by male flowers reduced to a filament with one anther. The 'petals' are bracts. Magnification: x90 at size.

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Size: 3561px × 4733px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: anther, botany, cyathium, euphorbia, false-coloured, flower, milii, nature, plant, plants, pollen, reproduction, reproductive, type