Osteospermum monstrosum fruithead back view

The Osteospermum monstrosum head seen from behind, shows little change in its purplish, outer involucral bracts that hold the structure, apart from its earlier upwards orientation during flowering now turned down in fruit.

Dense glandular hairs cover the outer bracts, the base of the involucre and the flower stalk. They resemble micro-sized, black-headed knobkerries planted with knobs at the top. The ring of outer bracts is inconsistent in picture, a couple of the bracts positioned in an incomplete, lower row.

The bracts are like an octopus endowed with surplus legs, radiating out and down. They still clutch the flowerhead as they did in budding and blooming days. Their exemplary service is continued, true and conscientious until the winged fruits will depart.

Such unwavering commitment to a fickle lover in arms that morphs dramatically in colour and form, even in the same tryst, spells fidelity that makes some species only despair and dream (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning, 2007; iNaturalist).