SUMMARY14CO2was supplied to single leaves at various heights along the axis of floweringFritillaria imperialisplants. The movement of the14C‐labelled assimilates from the lower leaves was mainly towards the bulb, and from the higher ones mainly towards the flower‐bearing shoot part.The nectar always contained equal am ountsof glucose and fructose, of which the14C‐labelled forms were predominantly collected from the nectaries of the flower that was on the same orthostichy as the14CO2‐treated leaf. It is concluded that the five orthostichies which can be distinguished morphologically reflect five largely, but not completely, separated pathways of translocation of assimilates in the shoot of this plant