Babiana bainesii early bud phase

The young Babiana bainesii buds in picture are dominated by the two bracts normally subtending each flower. Bract colour is green in various shades, ending brown-tipped or russet-tipped. On some B. bainesii flowers the bracts are russet throughout. The bracts are membranous, sometimes later papery and here young and hairy. The outer bracts are slightly longer than the inner ones. Inner bracts are forked only at their tips, unlike many other babianas that have deeper forked inner bracts or ones that split to the base.

Dark blue of the earliest corolla bits has burst free from the bracts (Manning, 2009; Shearing and Van Heerden, 2008; Lowrey and Wright, 1987; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; https://wildflowernursery.co.za).