Objective To observe the development process of reproductive organs of Choerospondias axillaris, and preliminary explore the cause of pistil and stamen abortion of C. axillaris.

Method The development process of microspores, megaspores, male and female gametophytes of C. axillaris were observed by paraffin sectioning method.

Results(1) C. axillaris was dioecious and unisexual, male flowers lack pistils and female flowers had staminodes; When the length of male flower was over 3 mm, the anther was almost mature, and when the length of ovary was over 3.5 mm, the embryo sac was mature. (2) The mature anther wall of male flower was divided into 5 layers, 1 epidermis layer, 1 endothecium layer, 2 middle layers, and 1 tapetum layer. (3) The division form of microspore mother cell belonged to simultaneous cytokinesis, tetrahedral microspore tetrad, 2-cell type pollen with 3 germination pore cytoplasmic cysts. (4) The development type of embryo sac was polygonum type which reversed in the later stage with double integument and thick nucellus. (5) In female flowers, the anther wall had 5 layers. Isobilateral tetrad was observed in ovule primordium stage. Tapetum disintegrated in microspore stage. Epidermis tended to degenerate when the anther was empty in the later stage and the anther chamber wall was slightly fibrous thickened. (6) It needed about 25 days for the male flower to disperse pollen after budding, and about 24 days for the female flower to develop mature embryo sac.

Conclusion The development pattern of male and female gametes of C. axillaris is consistent with that of the family Anacardiaceae. No degenerated ovule is found in the female flower of C. axillaris, and male flower has no pistil, which may due to the degeneration of pistil primordium during flower bud development stage. Staminodes have normal microspore mother cells, abnormal microspore tetrads and disintegration of tapetum, and anther sac is empty with no pollen grains.