Lobostemon glaucophyllus floral cycle

Four flower stages are presented at this Lobostemon glaucophyllus stem-tip.

In anticlockwise order, beginning with the bud in the bottom left, there is the still furled red-purple corolla bulging and elongating, gradually freeing itself from the grasp of the pointed sepals. Hairiness can be detected on some sepal margins, consistent with the hairy margins of the leaves.

The open flower has strongly defined white midribs losing their resolve at the upper ends of the tepals. The two-lobed anthers are oblong, dull yellow-brown to brown. Some hairiness is visible on the thick white style.

A brown, dried out corolla is present at the top, some thread-like stamens and possibly style in the centre.

On the left, the oldest member of this floral group is reduced to narrow, green and pink sepals, still in good shape. The thick, blackish style is very much present still, grown longer and retaining its hairs. The corolla and stamens are gone (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).