Metarungia galpinii inflorescences

The pale green inflorescence of Metarungia galpinii is an erect, candle-like spike growing from a stem-tip. The spikes are 7 cm to 17 cm long.

Large overlapping, pale green bracts cover most of the flowers in picture. The hairy bracts have pointed tips and membranous, glassy margins. Bract length is about 4 cm and its width 2 cm.

The velvety calyx is five-lobed, the corolla two-lipped and more than 5 cm long. The upper lip is part of the tube, the lower one three-lobed. The corolla is cream, tinged pink and brown, orange or red. The ovary is ovoid in shape. Two fertile stamens arise at the top of the corolla tube. 

The fruit is a woody capsule comprising two locules that are sparsely hairy. The seeds are compressed and rough-surfaced (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; JSTOR; http://pza.sanbi.org).