Mesembryanthemum oculatum flowers

The white, cream or brown-purple flowers of Mesembryanthemum oculatum grow solitary and stalked from stem-tips and from short, leaf axil branches.

The narrow, oblong petals grow in several whorls or series, the inner ones progressively shorter and thinner, becoming filaments without anthers near the flower centre. This means the inner ones are staminodes or sterile stamens around the central cluster of functional, yellow-anthered stamens.

There are four or five short, pointed stigmas in the flower base. Flowering happens late in winter and early in spring. The dry capsule is soft with five locules (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Smith, et al, 1998; Herre, 1971; iNaturalist).