Orbea variegata a small bud

Some stem tips and the early stage of an Orbea variegata flower bud are shown here. The conical tubercles forming the four-angled stem surfaces are prominent, the secondary, lateral teeth small and less clear to see. Some of the purplish mottling expected on the stem surface is visible on stem tip parts.

The underdeveloped bud in picture is still small enough for the five sepal tips to protrude around the corolla. At this stage the outer corolla surface is pale greenish cream, appearing slightly translucent (Frandsen, 2017; White and Sloane, 1937).