Cephalanthus natalensis inflorescence

    Cephalanthus natalensis inflorescence
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch

    Numerous Cephalanthus natalensis florets form each dense, spherical, pompom-like inflorescence at a stem-tip, a pompom being about 3 cm in diameter. The florets are greenish white or red, and bisexual, the floral parts occurring in fives.

    The calyces are small, their lobes ovate or oblong. The tubular corollas are about 3 mm long. The stamens arise from deep in the corolla throats. They have their anthers included in the tubes. The filaments are shorter than the anthers shaped like short arrow-heads. The ovaries are two-chambered and fleshy. There is only one ovule per locule. The styles are exserted far. They thicken gradually closer to the club-shaped stigmas.

    The inflorescences have a faint, musty scent. Flowering happens from before midwinter to spring (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).

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