Sinningia calcaria shoot, with two pairs of leaves (one pair barely visible) and a flowerbud
Sinningia leopoldii shoots, each with two pairs of leaves
It is interesting to note the way that the shoots are bent over in these two species. In most sinningias, the stems grow from the tubers with the leaves facing upward. Compare, for instance, the picture of Sinningia leucotricha shoots at the top of our home page.
In Sinningia calcaria and S. leopoldii (both in the Dircaea clade but not especially close within the clade), the shoots are doubled over. In effect, the plant leads with its stem, and only unfolds the leaves when the stem has grown tall enough. It is not clear what advantage the plant gets from this behavior, but it is reminiscent of the way freesia racemes develop, with the stalk unbending a little at a time, to keep the currently open flowers at the top.