Phylica lachneaeoides floral stages

A mixture of Phylica lachneaeoides buds still to open and faded flowers en route to fruiting are side by side at this stem-tip. The pink colouring is reserved for buds soon to open and open flowers.

When a flower fades into dull, pale grey, the top part of the calyx tube drops off, exposing the flattish top of the flower’s inferior ovary to swell into a fruit (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).