Self-pollination (facultative or obligatory) is known or suspected for a rather small number of Gesneriaceae (e.g., species of Epithema, Rhynchoglossum, Monophyllaea). Their flowers are mostly small and inconspicuous, often produced in large numbers, and fruit set is almost 100%. Unlike many other members of the family, there is no flower-development strategy that prevents or discourages self-pollination (e.g. male and female parts develop at separate times).
In a few cases the flowers do not open at all and fertilization is within the flower bud (e.g., Streptocarpus nobilis, Codonanthopsis dissimulata). Such “cleistogamous” self-pollination, when it occurs, is generally combined with some instances of “normal” flowers subject to cross-pollination.
