Orbea umbracula thin bud beginning

The beginning of an Orbea umbracula bud is conspicuous here, taller than the already swollen, dark-speckled bud behind it and the open flower in front of it. The long, straight, bud pedicel is cylindrical, smooth and pale purple brown with small, darker markings in longitudinal rows.

The acutely pointed sepal lobes are still closed. They are together over and in front of the yet undeveloped corolla, as well as the still to be grown, reproductive floral contents that will reside inside the flower (iNaturalist; http://www.llifle.com; https://worldofsucculents.com).