SYNNOTIA

(Sparaxis villosa)

(Photos: E. Cousins; flower, patch of plants)

When you first see these flowers emerging in spring, you might think they are freesias. The flower has a similar ‘bent tubular’ look to it, and the leaves are flat, shin high and much the same green. However, they are really quite different. Freesia flowers form a group like a pan pipe, with about 5 per stem. Here, though, there is a single flower per stem. The flower itself is almost white in colour, with touches of yellow and purple…another difference. Also, the leaves are less pointy at the top, with a prominent centre vein.