Caesia contorta illuminated by sunshine

Aided by sunlight this Caesia contorta flower, the blue grasslily, shows surface cells glistening on a pale blue tepal. The central band upon the outer tepal is opaque, contrasting against its translucent lateral sections, and halved by a darker central line. The tepals taper to tips where some brown tissue bits protrude.

The tricoloured filaments, yellow at the base, blue-back in the centre and white near the anthers gave the plant its Afrikaans common name of sokkiesblom, the colour bands resembling sock cuffs. The anthers have curving tips. The stamens are not as straight as the thin, white style emerging from the centre of the ovary. Tiny white spots are visible on parts of the filaments, possibly tiny hairs.

These delicate flowers, 2 cm in diameter, last for one day (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Bean and Johns, 2005; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; iNaturalist; iSpot).