Ipomoea ommaneyi flower and stalk

This photo shows the peduncle of what was a dense head of Ipomoea ommaneyi flowers, only one corolla still remaining. The peduncle or stalk is green and hairy, up to 11 cm long.

Next to the open flower the hairy green bracts of departed flowers persist, shielding the transforming ovaries that will become the fruit capsules.

On the right the sturdy ridge of a midrib is conspicuous on the lower leaf surface. Some lateral leaf veins also bulge upon this surface (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; JSTOR).