Gethyllis namaquensis flower centre

The cup-shaped flower of Gethyllis namaquensis is strongly sweet-scented. The perianth tube is broadly cylindrical, erect and white inside.

Numerous stamens producing pale yellow pollen are visibly present on short filaments ending in yellow anthers. The filament bases seem to be six but their apparent branching, a process called chorisis, results in more anthers, probably in multiples of six. Chorisis is a developmental process of a single organ, like a stamen, splitting or duplicating. The phenomenon happens during floral formation.

The longish white style is erect in the midst of this abundance, its tiny stigma head-like and three-lobed (Duncan, et al, 2016; Williamson, 2010; iNaturalist; https://www.worldfloraonline.org).