Th e identity of the labellum is a hot point in Zingiberales, which has long been discussed by many authors. In this study, fl oral vasculature and ontogeny of Canna indica (Cannaceae) was observed by LM and SEM in order to ascertain the identity of the labellum and the functional stamen of this species and provide evidence for the homologies of the fl oral organs in Zingiberales. Th e results indicate that the labellum of C. indica have incorporated two androecial members from both outer and inner whorls, rather than three, one or half member, as previously suggested by morphologists of Cannaceae fl owers. Th e two labellum traces are here interpreted as: one from the outer androecial whorl (diverging from the carpellary dorsal bundle), while the other from the inner androecial whorl (diverging from the parietal bundle). Th e functional stamen also incorporates two androecial bundles, the same as the labellum: one trace from the carpellary dorsal bundle, and the other (the petaloid appendage) from the parietal bundle. In addition, the origin of the vascular system in the androecium of Zingiberales and its systematic signifi cance are discussed.

Proper establishment of adaxial-abaxial polarity is essential for the development of lateral organs, while former researches were mostly focused on the polarity regulation in leaves, and little is known in stamens, especially in the asymmetric ones. Canna indica (Zingiberales: Cannaceae) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant and the representative species to study the evolutionary development of Zingiberales. The androecium of Canna indica comprises 3-4 petaloid staminodes and a fertile stamen (FS), which consists of a one-theca anther and a petaloid appendage. The partially petaloid stamen is considered as an intermediate state organ from a two-thecae stamen to a completely petaloid staminode. Using RNA-Seq, we quantified the expressions of the transcripts in anther and petaloid appendage, and detected 64,430 and 57,041 unigenes in these two organs, respectively. 4574 unigenes were down-regulated, and 3525 were up-regulated in petaloid appendage compared with those in anther. GO enrichment analysis indicated that the function of cytokinin is more related to cell differentiation in anther, while auxin is more to cell division in petaloid appendage. B- and C-class floral homeotic genes were expressed in these two androecium parts. Most of the class III HD-ZIP family members, which specify adaxial identity, were expressed lower in petaloid appendage than in anther; while KANADIs and YABBYs, which promote abaxial identity, exhibited opposite expression patterns. In situ hybridization showed that the adaxial marker gene was mainly expressed in the region between the two protrusions of the anther, while the abaxial marker was mainly expressed in petaloid appendage. We hypothesize that the adaxial-abaxial polarity participates in the distinctive anther-petaloid appendage patterning within the asymmetric FS of Canna indica.