Early floral development in Eupomatia bennettii and Eupomatia laurina was studied with scanning electron microscopy and serial microtomy to focus on initiation and development of the calyptra and initiation and phyllotaxis of the floral organs. Phyllomes preceding the calyptra are distichous or spirodistichous in arrangement. In both species, the calyptra is initiated as a smooth ring meristem encircling the floral apex. There are no traces of distinct organ primordia on this ring. After initiation, the calyptra rapidly elongates into a tubular structure, and its rim closes by irregular lobation and local formation of hairs. These lobes also behave differently than young organs in their growth pattern. The closed rim ceases to enlarge and forms a minute closed pore at anthesis. A long plastochron follows initiation of the calyptra, and the floral apex widens considerably during this time. Since a perianth is lacking, stamens and staminodes are the first floral organs initiated. They appear in a regular sp...