Zaluzianskya rubrostellata open flowers at night

The flowers of the nocturnal dwarf plant, Zaluzianskya rubrostellata, were photographed at night to find them open. The other photo of this plant given in the Album was taken during daytime with petals closed in bashfully folded fashion.

The corolla base is a long thin hairy tube, purplish brown and sometimes pale. The five-lobed yellow corolla reminds of the common Zaluzianskya flower shape, although the angular lobe tips are unlike the forked or notched ones.

A tiny orange to brown red star pattern is present around the flower centre from where anthers protrude. It is this star, presumably often red, that may be meant by the specific epithet, rubrostellata (red star). The flowers grow in clustered heads of up to five, appearing in early summer to after midsummer.

The beaked fruit capsules dehisce from a split in each locule valve to free the seeds (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Trauseld, 1969; iNaturalist; iSpot; www.maliba-lodge.com).