Strophanthus speciosus flower

The showy Strophanthus speciosus flowers tend to vary in the redness of the patches at the petal lobe bases. In this flower there are faint red markings across the lobe bases. 

In each flower mouth there are erect, paired appendages alternating with the lobes. In this flower they are thin and thread-like, some white, the rest coloured as the adjacent patches. These appendages characterise the Strophanthus genus. This is all that remains here of the floral corona, a feature common in the plant’s wider family, the Apocynaceae.

The generic name, Strophanthus, is derived from the Greek words strophos meaning twisted cord or rope, and anthos meaning flower, referring to the flower shape. The specific name, speciosus, is a Latin word meaning showy or beautiful.

The plants flower from spring to early summer (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Pooley, 1998; Onderstall, 1996; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).