Dichrostachys cinerea, sickle-bush

There are scenes in nature that reintroduce doubt about the wisdom of discarding childhood fantasies regarding fairies and the like. If music should start, stand dead still until the final note and procession or dance. It is quite safe.

Dichrostachys cinerea or sickle-bush bloomtime at Mjejane is a case in point. Dainty party lanterns in birthday cake colours dangle on long stalks from the leaf axils. The upper pink part of each pleasant-smelling spike consists of sterile staminodes, the bisexual yellow florets below have a chance of producing their curled-up fruit.

The green buds, tomorrow’s flowers, are still narrow and club-shaped. The fruit to come is a contorted pod relished by many browser species in the bush (Schmidt, et al, 2002; Codd, 1951).