Sesamum alatum flower and leaves

This upper stem of a wing-seeded sesame presents a single, pale flower with hairy surface on the trumpet-shaped outside of its corolla tube. The five lobes of the laterally symmetrical corolla are here acutely pointed. Pink-purple line markings are restricted to the base of the lower part inside the tube. The flowers may also be deeper pinkish red.

Upper leaves are long and narrow as in picture, the lower ones dividing into up to five lobes. The plant is an erect annual. The photo was taken in the Blouberg Nature Reserve in Limpopo (Pooley, 1998).