Rogeria longiflora, the desert foxglove

The flowers of Rogeria longiflora grow from leaf axils. The flower has a narrow, tubular corolla that widens near the mouth. This tube may be 4 cm long and asymmetrically widened at the base. The corolla lobes are large, rounded and spreading or recurving; the lowest one being longer. The lobe margins are irregularly shaped and wavy. The flower colour is white or cream with parallel, maroon or red lines running longitudinally inside the floor of the tube.

Small black ants may be noted on the plant, eating from the flower nectaries. Some of them can be spotted in the photo.

The fruit capsules cluster around the stem. The capsule is oblong, 5 cm long and pointing upwards with a prolonged tip. It becomes pale brown as it ripens, producing many tiny seeds.

The photo was taken in April in the Richtersveld (Williamson, 2010; iSpot; www.namibrand.com; www.kyffhauser.co.za).