Scabiosa caucasia_051

The central florets are beginning to open

Scabiosa caucasia_052

Two of 4 anthers have emerged from the central flower. Anthers in more peripheral flowers have opened revealing the pollen. Anthers from the outer marginal flowers have already detached from the stamen filaments and have lost their purple colour.

Scabiosa caucasia_055

The carpels of the outer flowers have now grown much larger

Scabiosa caucasia_057

Scabiosa caucasia_058

Almost all of the florets have opened. Pollen is lying on the large outer petal. An aphid is partially hidden between overlapping petals sat the bottom of the picture.

Scabiosa caucasia_060

A dissected flower showing the positions of the developing ovaries. Notice the central cavity

Scabiosa caucasia_061

A closer view

Scabiosa caucasia_062

The depth of the pappus and the position of the ovary are shown in this dissected flower