Lachenalia membranacea flowers

    Lachenalia membranacea flowers
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch

    The sessile Lachenalia membranacea flower is tubular to urn-shaped. Its outer three tepals are shorter than the inner ones that flare their white fringes on the dark upper parts. It may be these membranous, white, inner tepal margins that brought the plant its specific name of membranacea.

    The blue-based buds at the top in picture have their short, dark-tipped, outer tepals still closed over the mouth. The inner, still concealed tepals will elongate past them in opening. The perianths are from 8 mm to 10 mm long. 

    Dark, chunky anthers are visible inside the perianth tube. Flowering happens from late winter through most of spring (Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist).

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