Boophone disticha leaves gone, flowers only

This Boophone disticha plant was caught in flower near Oudtshoorn after its leaves had died. The opposing, vertical arrays of dry leaves are still in place.

Winter and summer growing forms of this widely adapted species have different response times in producing leaves and flowers, hysteranthy (leaves emerging after the flowers have opened) being one of its options. Its flowering seasons possibly also differ across regions receiving rain in the same seasons.

The umbel is not quite spherical or globose during flowering, reaching that shape during fruiting when it prepares for rolling and seed dispersal (Duncan, et al, 2016; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Pooley, 1998).