Monsonia crassicaulis bisexual flower

The (male) anthers, pale elliptic to oblong in shape, surround the five spreading (female) stigma lobes that radiate out in the centre of this Monsonia crassicaulis flower. The stamens are slightly shorter than the style, presenting the anthers slightly below the stigma.

Note the length of the spines, clearly capable of some defence action should hostilities arise. These spines demonstrate how difficult it may sometimes be to describe the typical colour of plant parts. The stem colour is partly due to the waxy covering layer upon them.