bitter gourds: the male flowers

a male flower

a male flower

a male flower

a male bud

a male flower

with many male buds

queuing for their turn to make appearance

Bitter gourd plants look very pretty when yellow flowers start to emerge. Most never end as fruits. These are the male flowers. The plant decides early which flower should end up having fruit.  The chosen flower will emerge with elongated and bulging stalk with flower bud at the tip. The lucky female flower is lucky indeed to be surrounded by many males.....