Which plant is cited as an example of epiphyllous stamens?

• A. Datura
• B. Mango
• C. Sunflower
• D. Lily

Answer: (D)

Epiphyllous stamens are stamens that arise from leaf-like parts of the flower, specifically from the perianth segments that resemble leaves rather than from the floral axis itself. In lilies, the stamens (the filaments bearing the anthers) are borne on these leaf-like tepals, so they develop on the perianth rather than on the receptacle or from the corolla base. This placement on the leaf-like parts is what defines them as epiphyllous.

Datura, on the other hand, has stamens attached to the corolla tube (epipetalous), not on the leaf-like perianth. Mango flowers don’t exhibit stamens arising from leaf-like parts in that sense, and sunflowers’ reproductive parts are organized differently within the disk and ray florets. Therefore, lilies clearly illustrate epiphyllous stamens.