Cyanella orchidiformis leaves

The soft leaves of Cyanella orchidiformis grow annually in a basal rosette, sheathing the flower scape while spreading around it.

The leaves are lance-shaped, tapering to acutely pointed tips, sometimes slightly channelled. The colouring of the usually wavy leaves is pale or dull green. There are usually five leaves. Leaf dimensions are about 13 cm long and 2,5 cm wide near the base.

In the photo a low branching has occurred in the inflorescence. The bract at the base of this branch stalk is large and leaf-like. A smaller bract reveals its tip, growing higher up from the upper side of the branch stalk.

Much smaller bracts occur at the base of each bud in the inflorescence branch. When the flowers open, these bracts will be positioned away from the flowers at the individual pedicel bases. There will also be a secondary bract visible on each pedicel, halfway up its length (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist).