Alonsoa unilabiata

Thanks again to Jackie Chambers for today''s entry (both the photograph and write-up):

There is something mysteriously attractive about Alonsoa unilabiata, or the mask flower. The pink flowers have a dark purple centre with two obvious yellow patches -- giving the slightly eerie effect of bright eyes looking out from behind a mask. The dark centre to the flower and contrasting yellow patches are characteristics shared by members of the closely-related genus Diascia, e.g., Diascia longicornis.

The rather theatrical effect created by the petals is complimented by the double rows of curved appendages at the base of the flower. These are the stamens, which are swollen and curled downwards, also seen in this photograph.

These peculiar flowers range from 15-18 mm across, and bloom from August to October. This annual plant can reach up to 15cm in height and has oval leaves with toothed margins arranged in opposite pairs along the stem.

This little flower was spotted at Vanrhyn''s Pass, just outside of the small village of Nieuwoudtville on the Bokkeveld Plateau, an area which is home to an incredible variety of spring-flowering annuals and geophytes. For more about this fascinating place (and to start planning your own trip) see Nieuwoudtville -- Place of Hidden Treasures. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin    Source