Fenestraria rhopalophylla ssp aurantiaca

Description

Fenestraria aurantiaca is an evergreen mat forming geophyte, mainly subterranean with just the tips of the leaves appearing above the soil. Fenestraria is a monotypic genus comprising only one specie and one subspecies. On each leaf of this plant there is a transparent window-like area at the top, it is for these window ( in Latin “fenestra”) that the genus name is derived from. The leaves are club-shaped flat or rounded on top, often partially buried with translucent, window-like tips on top to admit light. They are smooth and have a waxy layer. Flowers are medium-large, white to yellow, solitary or in groups of up to three. They flower from mid-winter (or autumn) to early spring. Fenestraria rhopalophylla aurantiaca  appears very similar to Frithia pulchra, though the leaves are a slightly different shape and is smooth on the surface.  F. rhopalophylla has yellow flowers, compared to the pink flowers of F. pulchra. ( Fenestraria rhopalophylla = white flowers & ssp aurantiaca has yellow flowers)