Syneilesis palmata in bloom

This shredded umbrella plant has been taunting me all spring (shredded, because, well, check out the leaves at the base). It sent up a flower stalk early, and for seemingly months now has been on the brink of opening, but then takes just a little longer to stretch out (more than 3 feet tall now). Now that the flowers are beginning to open, I'm glad its been a slow process, maybe they will entertain me for quite awhile longer. I didn't know what to expect, but certainly not this. These flowers look like they are sprouting cooked quinoa or a collection of coiled insect proboscides, or some little creature with spectacles, depending on my mood. And they look like they may still have something up their sleeve...