Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga inflorescence

The thyrse-shaped inflorescence of Cotyledon orbiculata var. oblonga has its roundly compact cluster of flowers open in a particular sequence. The symmetrical axes of the thyrse end in cymes in which the central flower always opens before the lateral two.

The youngest buds in the queue in picture are powdery white-tipped and cone-shaped. These smallest ones are all in an equal cohort waiting their turn. Their pointed sepals clutching the back-ends of the corollas are not that differently shaped or much smaller than those of the more advanced flowers.

The second group in line to flower have elongated petals more florally coloured but still ending in the cone-shaped tips. Their tubes bulge in the centre, a feature of the oblonga variety.

The open flowers lead the parade, oldest and longest tubed. Their five petal tips recurve and the corolla mouths appear busy from exserted stamens and styles. There are two whorls of five stamens each in a flower, causing the anthers to differ in picture. Some young anthers are visibly bilobed, curved and creamy coloured (Smith, et al, 2017; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).