Chaenostoma hispidum buds

Flower buds of Chaenostoma hispidum have narrow sepals veering away from the yellowish, still globular beginnings of the corolla. A bud displays more hairiness upon its narrow sepals and the outside surface of the developing corolla, compared to other plant parts. The photo was taken in May on Hoy Koppie in Hermanus. 

Plant hairiness is an adaptation to the climate of the plant’s Western Cape coastal distribution. This land is hot and dry in summer, cool and wet in winter. The plant hairs reduce moisture loss during summer, while collecting water on misty and drizzly days. Hairs also limit plant damage from herbivorous insects.

This species may flower throughout the year, serving bees, the main pollinators dependably when other eateries close for various, often long off-seasons. One’s dietary preferences have to be adjusted in accordance with seasonal crop availability, whether the main procurement source is supermarket or bush.

Who knows whether climatic conditions feature in insect and bird instinct, directing pollen and nectar consumers to the vicinity of plants flowering in the heat or cold, the wet or dry and the windy or not?

Fishermen study clouds, wind, waves and temperature to steer their boats to likely spots in the sea for achieving a good catch; or whether to embark for the day at all. Effective browsing may be a survival feature for any species in times of shortage or famine (Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).