Miraglossum pulchellum
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch
Elaborately intricate, a Miraglossum pulchellum inflorescence causes surprise when slipping its floral shapes among the very different flowers of the grasses. This may happen from before midspring to early summer. The specific name, pulchellum, is derived from the Latin word pulcher meaning beautiful, referring to these flowers.
The five long thin corona lobe appendages curve away from the flower centre like miniscule rhino horns. The plant's common name? Horned miracle-tongue!
The fruits to follow are hairy to bristly follicles, from 3,5 cm to 7 cm long, the bristles curving upwards (Germishuizen and Clarke, 2003; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).