Anisodontea reflexa flower

The white to pale pink or mauve flowers of Anisodontea reflexa grow from leaf axils near stem tips. They have five petals that are strongly reflexed back over the five-lobed, hairy green calyx. This feature brought the plant its specific name of reflexa. The petals are narrow and dark-coloured near the base, broad, lobed and pale-coloured at the tips.

The filaments form an erect tube in the flower centre before splitting higher up, presenting their ample cluster of anthers that give the ant in picture much to contemplate. Below the calyx there is a second ring of small, leaf-like bracts, an epicalyx. Flower diameter is about 1,5 cm.

A flower lasts about one day. Flowering happens in spring and summer, although this photo was taken near the Seweweekspoort in April (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).