Schotia afra var. afra flowering out of season

Schotia afra var. afra produces globose inflorescences, dense and many-flowered on short spur-branches. The flower is five-petalled and red, maroon or dull pink in colour.

When the ovoid bud opens the red filaments elongate, pushing their beige to pale yellow anthers nearer the line of flight of interested passers-by. The style is also long and red, to not miss out on pollen that might be bestowed. At the back even the sepals, the inferior ovary and the flower stalk are dark red, maximising the chances of making it as a flower, not remaining a wall flower.

Neither this variety nor var. angustifolia is considered to be threatened in habitat early in the twenty first century.

The photo was taken in the Addo Elephant National Park during March. Flowering is more seen in late winter, spring and summer (Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).