Protea punctata proving its mettle

A small Protea punctata plant living in rock as seen here may not be young anymore. It is taking its time, and has taken its time in striving for maturity and a respectable size for representing its kind and contributing to the next generation of the species.

Life can be a stark test of the possible in the arid inland parts of South Africa as here in the Gifberg. The seed germinating under the extreme conditions prevailing in its slightest of sandstone rock cracks truly accepts life's challenge. Healthy leaves now promise blooming at some stage in the future and hopefully culminating in fulfilling the singular life purpose of setting seed… to repeat it all next season again.

Is heroism involved in a success story as unlikely as this? Are these odds remarkable? But plants can’t be heroes, can they?