Erythrophysa transvaalensis flowers

Male and female flowers of Erythrophysa transvaalensis grow on separate trees, the species being dioecious. Flowers appear before or concurrently with the leaves in early spring, the tree also deciduous. The inflorescence is a small, erect, branched head.

The flower has a small, cup-shaped calyx with angled base, the four petals as long as the sepals. A cluster of hairy stamens show their anthers protruding from male flowers.

In the photo some styles are far exserted from the corollas; stamens are present in female flowers but sterile. A two- or three-lobed ovary is found in flowers of female trees only. The flower colour is red with some green.

These flowers attract birds and butterflies (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).