Why do blossoms have different numbers of petals?

Lycopersica · March 2, 2013

This morning, I was admiring (and pollinating, hee-hee) the blossoms on my tomato plants. Up until now, I thought they only grew blossoms in the shape of little five-pointed stars, but today I noticed a couple with six petals (and six sepals). Why would a single plant grow mostly five-petaled blossoms but occasionally put one out with six petals? Is it because they're hybrid (red robin) plants? Does the number of petals correspond to the number of seed chambers in the fruit?

March 2, 2013	#1
Lycopersica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New England Posts: 46	Why do blossoms have different numbers of petals? This morning, I was admiring (and pollinating, hee-hee) the blossoms on my tomato plants. Up until now, I thought they only grew blossoms in the shape of little five-pointed stars, but today I noticed a couple with six petals (and six sepals). Why would a single plant grow mostly five-petaled blossoms but occasionally put one out with six petals? Is it because they're hybrid (red robin) plants? Does the number of petals correspond to the number of seed chambers in the fruit? __________________ Root for your cuttings and they'll do the same for you