Podalyria calyptrata flowers

The waterblossom pea is one of the very attractive Western Cape coastal shrubs or small trees. It is a favourite garden plant in the winter rainfall area, best grown from seed. 

The flower is about 15 mm in diameter. Much of that is represented by the upper petal, the banner. Its bright pink ends in white at the base of the two rounded lobes. The keel where the stamens are concealed protrudes, the wing petal pair flanking it. The keel consists of two fused petals.

The calyptrata specific name is derived from the Greek word calyptra meaning a woman's veil or mantle, referring to the unique hoods or sheaths formed by the broad bracts positioned like caps over the flower buds and breaking away as the buds swell (Manning, 2009; Bean and Johns, 2005; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist).