Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum determined flowering

This stand of Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum plants are flowering well in October on a flat, sandy patch in the west of the Little Karoo. The stony ground between hills is occasionally flooded. Recent rains contributed to their success this year. Still, several of the plants are small, even tiny and red with stress while flowers are widely present. This remains their consistent priority, irrespective of bodily wellbeing.

Setting seed is always important for plants, also urgent for annuals. A decreasing percentage of seeds germinates annually when seasons are skipped, should conditions be too hard in some years. Conversely, many plant seeds can lie waiting for years before responding to moisture and temperature triggers.

Going through the digestive systems of birds or animals usually do no harm to seed viability, while other species require that service or do better from it, as well as getting dispersed (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://flora.sa.gov.au).