Anisotoma pedunculata flower

The flowers of Anisotoma pedunculata grow in few-flowering umbel-like cymes from lateral nodes. The stalks of flower clusters may be up to 5 cm long, the individual flower pedicels 2 cm to 3 cm. The base of the flower sits in a calyx of narrowly lance-shaped sepals with acute tips. The five lobes of the corolla are cream-coloured from the base, purplish brown on the upper two-thirds to their tapering tips. The oblong corolla lobes angle outwards to form a cone-shaped cup or spread.

In the flower centre, at the base of the corolla, the pale cream erect lobes of the much smaller corona can be seen. They surround the staminal column in the oblong body with hairy anthers. Coronas are inner flower structures found in various forms in the flowers of species in the Apocynaceae family. They comprise the many evolved shapes of stamens with filaments and anthers, pistils with ovaries, styles and stigmas, the vital flower parts. In addition, there is provision for a mint of the pollination currency, nectar, produced and stored in containers, often of complex design. 

These corona designs offer almost limitless ideas for ceramic and other sculptors to use in work of abstract shape. In the case of the flowers, however, these convoluted forms represent vital organs, all absolutely functional and adapted miraculously to reproduce; their species to survive. 

Hairiness is a dominant impression of the flower overall. Flowering occurs in summer (iSpot; JSTOR).