Hermannia stricta flowers

The flowers of Hermannia stricta grow solitary, drooping from pale green peduncles. The yellow-green calyx has small, acutely narrow sepals that hold the flaring petals in a neatly overlapping spiral. The corolla is cerise to rose-red or dusty pink in colour with delicately thin, rounded petals that show some translucence against the light. The corolla tips are spread open in a funnel-shape, up to 2 cm wide.

The common names of desert rose and red bells are richly deserved by these flowers. In flower, this plant is often the single colourful item to challenge the drab surroundings (Williamson, 2010; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005).