Anemone fanninii flowers

The fragrant flowers of Anemone fanninii grow in clusters of two or three on erect peduncles, 3,5 cm to 8 cm long, well above the leaves that are not fully developed at bloomtime.

The white flowers have elliptic to ovate petals spreading in two or three whorls around the centre. The petals may be tinged pink or lilac and have hairs on their lower surfaces. Numerous stamens tipped with yellow anthers surround the green ovary comprising many carpels.

The plants grow from the coast to the Drakensberg. Flowering starts late in winter until midsummer. The photo was taken early in January (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).

(There are more photos of this plant in the Herbs and Langkloof Albums.)