Cleretum papulosum subsp. schlechteri

This Cleretum papulosum plant was seen near Nieuwoudtville in August. It is thought to be the bigger of the two subspecies, subsp. schlechteri.

Several long-stalked flowers are developing in one leaf cluster. The buds are enclosed or partly enclosed by five leaf-like, fleshy sepals.

Pale green in colour and covered in shiny water cells, the sepals taper to acutely pointed, blunt tips. Some of the sepals have their tips lifted, curving back from the unopened petals while others adhere to the petals. Sepal shape varies in the same flower, some broader and triangular, mainly on the flatter side of the bud, others at the ends of the flattened bud narrow, sometimes longer (Manning, 2009; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).