Pistillate flowers are terminal to the central stem and other major branches of the inflorescence. Smaller and more numerous staminate flowers make up the rest. Both flowers are shortly stalked and scented. Neither flower has petals but rather five triangular lobes. Staminate flowers have two rings of five stamens each borne on a stalk.
Pistillate flowers have a compound ovary with three locules topped by three sticky, sessile stigmas.
Within an inflorescence, a few staminate flowers open first and fall off after one day. Pistillate flowers then open for a period of three to five days after which the rest of the staminate flowers open. This mechanism ensures a high degree of cross-pollination. Wind appears to play no role. Fertilization occurs within 24 hours after pollination.