Rafnia schlechteriana leaves as flower shields

Concealing tomorrow’s Rafnia schlechteriana flowers for dramatic revelation at the right moment is done in an unusual manner by this plant.

A new leaf-pair upon a long internode conceals the buds like a (nearly) closed envelope does a private letter. Once the flowers are there, a new stem or stems may sprout next to them for another inflorescence between its own leaves at the next level. An older leaf-pair subtending all new arrivals in its care, becomes concave on the inside, accommodating the arrivals in a stance suggesting habitual caring (Manning, 2007; iNaturalist).