Muraltia squarrosa floral stages

Every Muraltia squarrosa flower is embedded in, or here probably upon its own rosette-like tuft or fascicle of elegantly shaped, rigid leaves.

Floral stages seen here include a recent bud, nearly unfurled, showing its more pinkish outside petal surfaces. There are also some open, as well as brown, withered flowers. Only the hornless fruit capsule is absent from the range.

The spiny leaf-tips appear innocent, mere decorative finishings added to balance the velvety surfaces. Their sharpness may, however, add a modicum of control over goings-on during pollinator visits, albeit surreptitiously.

Whatever the verdict to that conundrum, evolution put the spines here and so far retains them, which would be rare in cases of long term, redundant accessories (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Moriarty, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).