Erica brachialis ovary bursting from the corolla

Some bulging Erica brachialis ovaries are maturing under the brown, spent corollas near this stem tip. The globular green bodies are bursting from their shrivelling covers while the long, far exserted styles remain attached to their tips.

The fleshy green or orange fruits remain, holding their seeds upon the plant for a long time. They are still sometimes present when the next season’s flowers arrive.

The sepals, still in their spreading positions as upon the young flowers, are paler than the leaves in the photo, otherwise none the worse for wear here.

The white hairs upon the corolla tubes seem in their old age to be growing in rows, a feature less noticed on some young flower tubes (www.plantzafrica.com).