Lachenalia obscura flowers

These Lachenalia obscura flower spikes were photographed near Oudtshoorn during September in the middle of the expected blooming season. The one stalk is green, the other purple.

The flowers opened white with magenta tips on the outer, shorter tepals. The magenta spreads on the older flowers on this plant, discolouring towards pinkish purple. Dark anthers are exserted from the flowers in picture. Some buds at the top of the inflorescence may not open at all (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).