Wurmbea variabilis flowers

The flowers of Wurmbea variabilis grow in a dense spike, without pedicels or bracts. The flowers are pale green, white or cream, the six tepals spreading and joined at the base. A purple, U-shaped blotch is present halfway up each tepal. The tepal margins are also purple on the flowers in picture. The six stamens point outwards, topped by globular yellow anthers. Grooved nectaries are present.

Wurmbea flowers are often unpleasantly scented, attracting flies as pollinators. W. variabilis is one of the foetid ones.

Flowering usually commences late winter, continuing until end spring. This one was seen during September (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).