Adenandra villosa

Adenandra villosa is a variable, aromatic shrub of the southwestern Cape. It branches much, growing stems to heights from 20 cm to 1 m. Nine subspecies are recognised, including subsp. villosa, subsp. biseriata, subsp. umbellata and subsp. orbicularis.

The five petals of the flower in picture are broadly spatulate or spoon-shaped, loosely spreading without being able to form a tube around the inner flower parts at the base, being so narrow low down. Some shiny red tips of broad and pointed sepals are visible among the petals, succeeding better than the petals in providing protection to ovary, et al.

The petal surfaces appear delicately membranous, white with a pinkish sheen unevenly sustained, but pronounced in the central depression down each petal into the base. Hairy stamens and staminodes tipped with red glands surround the short style upon the green ovary (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; iSpot; http://redlist.sanbi.org).