Bobartia gladiata subsp. gladiata buds

These buds of Bobartia gladiata subsp. gladiata, arranged in a fan-shaped cluster, were seen in Bainskloof during October. The flowers are subtended by a leaf-like, keeled outer bract or spathe of up to 4,5 cm long, which is usually dry by the time the flowers open, in picture still green.

Whitish translucent inner bracts, smaller and rolled into cylinders are present, enveloping the stalks of individual flowers to just below the green ovaries (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; iSpot; Wikipedia).