Oxalis punctata unusual leaf colour

The mostly green leaves of Oxalis punctata may in certain conditions undergo a colour change to appear like this. The leaves form a mat covering over the underground bulbs and roots that benefit from the aid in moisture retention. The photo was taken at Minwater in the Little Karoo where moisture is at a premium.

The sepals shared the coloration event. They are oblong with tips tapering abruptly.

The emerging petals of the bud in picture twist strongly in its narrow, elongated tip. The open flowers retain some effects of this earlier winding.

Sunlight and the angles involving observer (or camera) and the target looked at, accentuate or mask details. The hairs on different flower pedicels in picture illustrate the point why we sometimes miss something or rave about it (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist).