NHD52/25

Noon flower

Pentapetes phoenicea L.; Sterculiaceae family

Original inscriptions: 午時花 (front lower left, in ink);

Further inscriptions: H. Sh. (front lower left, in ink); Pentapetes phoenicea (front lower right, in pencil)

Flowering branch of a "noon flower" plant. The twig divides in two vertically, and leaves and flowers stem out laterally in an alternate arrangement. Larger leaves are dark green, located mostly along the stems, with smaller and lighter green leaves at the top of each twig. Leaves are lanceolate in shape with toothed margins and pinnate veins. On the lower half of the twigs, six open flowers (three on each twig) are depicted four front facing, showing pistil in pale yellow, and pink inner petals, some with yellow marks, and yellow stamens; one back facing showing pedicel and sepals in light green, and one lateral facing. The corolla is composed of five red, round, outer petals. On the left twig, a partially bloomed flower is depicted laterally, showing petals still closed but out of the bud, with sepals open. Six and two additional buds are depicted on the left and right twig respectively. They are light green and egg shaped, with sepals slightly dividing at the top. All the buds are at located on the upper end of the twigs, close to the smaller and lighter coloured leaves. On the bottom: dissected view of the inner layer of petals, depicted individually each with three stamens, one on the left and two of the right. The smaller inner petals are light red in colour with yellow marks. These are followed by a yellow longer pistil and the pedicel showing five sepals. Five outer petals are depicted on the lower right corner, laid out individually.