Tetragonia nigrescens flower

The four perianth segments of the Tetragonia nigrescens flower spread widely. Their inner surfaces are convex while the margins are turned up, especially in their upper halves.

The yellow, petal-like inside surfaces glisten. They may also be cream, sometimes nearly white and occasionally orange. The green outsides are densely covered in long hairs. Flower diameter is up to 4 mm.

Many yellow-filamented stamens emerge from around the green, fleshy, half-inferior ovary visible in the floor of the flower centre. Four erect styles ending in fluffy, papillose yellow stigmas emerge from the ovary centre, representing the four locules of the seed-production facility. Papillose means covered in papillae, which are minute, nipple-shaped protuberances.

Flowering happens from winter to after midspring. The photo was taken in August (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).