Some documentation on the biology of Arenga pinata's florition (or whatever other sp)

[Phoenikakias]

Arenga pinnata is known to be monocarpic. Nevertheless evolution has contributed to an adoption if a very clever strategy, so that inbreeding is avoided but at same time the conditions of a prolific production of seeds are also provided. First, when blooming starts, are produced exclusively female inflorescences, when plant has still all its leaves on and vigor for fruition is sufficient.  Receptive female flowers look like buds, but on closer inspection I observed that the buds had a small opening exuding honey dew. It had turned out finally that this tiny opening was the real flower atop a huge ovary.  This is how female inflorescence emerges.

Then as it expands, first are produced few black organs, which are shed quickly and imo are sterile male flowers. Just like Calamus with not yet clarified function.

[Phoenikakias]

Then female flowers develop to maturity in the way I describe in my previous reply.

[Tracy]

23 minutes ago, Phoenikakias said:

Then as it expands, first are produced few black organs, which are shed quickly and imo are sterile male flowers. Just like Calamus with not yet clarified function.

It looks like you have more to add.  You have shown the female flowers, which are followed by the black organs which you believe are sterile male flowers.  Did you capture the fertile male flowers?  I'm not growing this species but I am growing Arenga engleri.  I haven't really paid attention to when the male flowers are produced versus the female organs.  I assume that my photo shows A. engleri male?  These flowers seem to drop before growing into larger seeds like what I assume are the female organs.  Looking forward to seeing your E pinnata male flowers.

[Phoenikakias]

50 minutes ago, Tracy said:

It looks like you have more to add.  You have shown the female flowers, which are followed by the black organs which you believe are sterile male flowers.  Did you capture the fertile male flowers?  I'm not growing this species but I am growing Arenga engleri.  I haven't really paid attention to when the male flowers are produced versus the female organs.  I assume that my photo shows A. engleri male?  These flowers seem to drop before growing into larger seeds like what I assume are the female organs.  Looking forward to seeing your E pinnata male flowers.

Yep, run out of battery lol.

[Phoenikakias]

Then this summer, after a couple of years it has produced a male inflorescence, which consists exclusively of male flowers. Buds are oval in contrast to almost round female buds. 

First appearance of male inflorescence

[Phoenikakias]

Male flower buds prior to anthesis  

Sorry for the very bad resolution, it was almost night, when I made this shot.

Again a picture of female buds just prior to anthesis.

[Phoenikakias]

 Today I thought to have heard some water leak, only to discover after inspection that the buzzing noise was caused by the bees, which were swarming around the male inflorescence of my Arenga pinnata, now in full anthesis. Btw no attractive odor, to humans anyway. Btw #2 the yellow powder on floor is of course shed pollen from the flowers! Anyone needing this pollen for a blooming pinnata with female flowers.

[Phoenikakias]

[Phoenikakias]

And a small video.

https://youtu.be/X0Ynzy83Opk

[Frank]

Never saw any female flowers on my blooming arenga pinnatas.

Only male flowers, which eventually fall to the ground after opening.