Hermannia trifurca open and shut

    Hermannia trifurca open and shut
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Thabo Maphisa

    The Hermannia trifurca corolla colour promises a much deeper shade of pink-purple in bud than is achieved by the open flower. The petals have square tips here, giving the cup an even rim.

    Stubbly hairs cover the pointed sepal tips that are yellow green and fleshy. They seem to have a firm grip on the more delicate flower parts still developing.

    In the open flower, the broadly oblong anthers are stacked at an angle in the centre like the poles of a tepee lacking its skin. The stigma tip protrudes erectly in the centre.

    The flowers are said to have a sour scent (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist).

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