Babiana mucronata subsp. mucronata leaves

The narrowly lance-shaped leaves of Babiana mucronata subsp. mucronata don’t quite form a regular fan. They emerge from the ground in erect position next to the flower stem.

The leaves are covered in short hairs, visible on the margins. The blades are pleated similarly to leaves of many Babiana species. Lacking midribs is another common feature of Babiana leaves occurring here.

The specific (and subspecific) name, mucronata, is a Latin word meaning sharply pointed. It probably refers to the fine point of the leaf tip that often turns black (Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist; https://casabio.org).