flowers as a point of ident for varieties

[t-ham]

Good Morning All,

I was having a discussion with another villian and asked the question "Can flower structure, color, and/or petal quantity be used as any sort of constant identifier for a particular variety of tomato?". I noticed Tatiana posts pics of blossoms on many pages of her database and was wondering if the particular forms were stable within a variety or not. My friend recommended I throw the question up as a new post. I imagine the very nature of OP reproduction would seem to allow for great variety within a type but I was thinking that if a variety is stable enough to survive for decades or centuries,then maybe flower structure was both stable and unique to a variety.

A tip to a link would be great if the explanation would take too much of your time.

Thanks in advance,

Tom