Heliophila juncea, the bashful stance

Small green calyces at the back of Heliophila juncea flowers are flaunted here, rather than the inner secrets of the corollas that stir the interest of insects. Modesty becomes, but the visitors will reach their desired destinations whether the flowers lift their heads or not.

The dull green sepals taper to mildly pointed tips, grasping the white, clawed petal bases. The reddish-purple pedicel (stalk) of the flower does not match the purple of the petals.

In conducive light the petal veins of H. juncea are more than visible, here quite striking in appearance, both on their inside surfaces and out (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; iSpot).