Brunsvigia striata buds

Dark maroon Brunsvigia striata buds contrast against the gravelly bare ground around the flower stalk.The pedicels of the buds are of unequal length, shortening the odds on which flower will open first.

Two opposing spathe bracts spread below the bud pedicels, the coverall that served the buds earlier. These bracts are leathery, round-tipped, up to 3 cm long, 1,7 cm wide and usually green, but here dark red. The bracts persist until fruiting time, by then turned right down (Duncan, et al, 2016; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iSpot).