Aristea africana flower

The spathes below Aristea africana flowers are translucent with dark keels. This offers the would-be plant identifier one of those necessary but insufficient clues. The margins of the spathes are, however, also fringed with long, narrow segments (laciniate). They are white and hair-like, providing an additional helpful characteristic.

The stigma is blue and divided into three short, fringed branches. It is visible in the photo in front of the three yellow anthers.

Aristea flowers last for less than a day. Several spent corollas are present here; shrivelled, twisted and black around the one remaining flower.

The shade of blue is bright in this specimen; flowers may also be paler (Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; iSpot).