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. Unfertilized pistillate flowers quickly wither and die. Hand-pollination for breeding purposes is customary. Stamens are removed from the seed parent to prevent selfing. A staminate flower from the pollen parent is then applied to the pistillate flower of the seed parent and secured with cotton.