Codon royenii spreading bush

A large Codon royenii plant may be more spreading than erect, sometimes woody at the base. Its numerous whitish to yellowish spines become up to 1 cm long. There are also bristly hairs and some glandular hairs on stems and leaf stalks. This plant was photographed in the Goegap Nature Reserve.

The old plant acquires much pale colouring in its often extremely hot surroundings in the open under a relentless sun. Much heat can thus be reflected, reducing plant temperature.

Dark plant parts would absorb more heat for slow cooking administered internally. Things that would happen in the Hades of Botany. Such a place, if it existed, might not be too far away, judging by local conditions in the summer months.

But what is in the moment, is everything here, excluding all of what may be. The rooted plant is safe from transcendental dangers. No vicarious wanderings of the imagination to places of guilt and torture occur... as far as people know (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://pza.sanbi.org).