Monsonia spinosa flower without corolla

When the petals of a Monsonia spinosa flower depart early, as might be expected from the flimsiest flower part, the more persistent calyx gains prominence around the bunch of bedraggled, used-up stamens in the flower centre. Some of the longer filaments have by now lost their anthers.

The five spreading sepals show a pale yellow-green translucence on their concave inner surfaces. Each sepal has a long, claw-like, curved protrusion at its tip.

The dark, closed bud below the spreading calyx still lacks that length on its sepal tips.

Some spines in picture have the small, channelled leaves, green or brown and dry, persisting at their tips. Not all the leaves of this plant are long-stalked as the ones seen here (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).