Haemanthus sanguineus emerging bud

The bud of Haemanthus sanguineus appears directly from the ground when the leaves are dry.

The tough spathe bracts cover the developing florets completely in their upwards journey from the bulb to the open air, safeguarding them from damage as they are pushed through the earth. The bract tips in picture have started turning red, the lower parts not yet.

The dry leaves around them served earlier to build and equip the bulb for now performing the flowering function without running short of supplies (Duncan, et al, 2016; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist).