Stilbe vestita flowers

The flowers of Stilbe vestita grow at stem-tips in dense, ovoid spikes. The specific name, vestita, is derived from a Latin word vestitus meaning clothed, possibly referring to the bracts below the calyx of each flower. The stiff calyces are cartilaginous.

The numerous, small, white flowers have hairs in the throat. The five petals form a two-lipped corolla with a bigger upper pair and three narrower lower ones. The petals have variably silky margins but are hairless on the outside. There are four exserted stamens.

Flowering happens from winter to after midsummer.

Various insects pollinate the flowers (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist; JSTOR; https://pza.sanbi.org).