Lessertia frutescens flowers

The nodding red flowers of this Lessertia frutescens plant seen in September in the Ceres Karoo resemble shoes. While the banner and keel petals are conspicuous, the wing petals are small, concealed inside the calyx.

The calyx is darker red than the corolla, its lobes are angular and acutely pointed. The base of the calyx is rounded, like a cup that could not stand in its saucer. The pedicel (stalk) is angled horizontally from the calyx, causing the flower to hang away from the stem, as far as its straight stalk allows. 

Upper stems and leaf rachises are white velvety, as are the lower leaflet surfaces (Manning, 2009).