About 1 month ago I planted some cantaloupes seeds from a store bought melon. I have only one or two bees that come about in the morning going from flower to flower. (I think it's probably the same ones everyday.) I've noticed recently that one flower had 5 petals with a 6th petal that was slightly smaller and overlapping the others. And today I noticed a flower with only two petals. Is this normal?

What is the best way to tell if a flower is staminate or hermaphrodite? They are much to small for me to see by eye if it has a stigma or not.. Will the flower close differently or stay open longer if it is one or the other?

Any answers or suggested books that can answer my questions would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Brian from Florida