Jamesbrittenia bergae flowers

Jamesbrittenia bergae, commonly known as crimson flox, bears flowers that resemble those of the parasite, Striga elegans.

The flowers grow in a raceme from upper leaf axils, the uppermost one in the inflorescence opening last. The corolla tubes are narrow and about 1,5 cm long. The flower tube widens abruptly in a sharp bend a short distance below the corolla mouth, a common Jamesbrittenia characteristic.

The conspicuous flower feature of this plant is, however, the five wedge-shaped, crimson red corolla lobes that spread to 3 cm in diameter. The filaments are attached to the inside of the corolla tube, their anthers not reaching beyond the yellow throat.

A two-chambered fruit capsule of up to 1 cm in length follows the flower, releasing tiny black seeds when the ripe capsule splits (www.plantzafrica.com).