Pergularia daemia subsp. daemia flower from behind

    Pergularia daemia subsp. daemia flower from behind
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Ivan Lätti

    Seen from behind, the five Pergularia daemia subsp. daemia corolla lobes open widely. They are narrow, tapering to acutely pointed tips that curve in, long hairs present upon their margins. The shorter but similarly shaped sepals adhere to the flower base. Only their tips curve out slightly.

    In the flower centre the erect corona lobes lean inwards like a narrow, white pyramid. The five outer lobes of this corona inside the corolla are membranous, the inner ones tapering to finely pointed tips and arch over the staminal column positioned centrally.

    The fruit follicles that follow usually grow in in-curving pairs, narrow and tapering to their tips. The green follicles have short, recurving bristles scattered along their surfaces.

    Long silky hairs are attached to the small, flat, brown seeds released from the splitting follicle once it is ripe. The hairs facilitate wind dispersal (Pooley, 1998; Van Wyk and Gericke, 2000; Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; iSpot; Wikipedia).

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