Pelargonium quercifolium anthers gone

The anthers of Pelargonium quercifolium flowers disappear from their filaments before the floral functions are completed. The female parts are still being pollinated from other flowers after the flower’s own pollen has found uses on stigmas out of picture, the wonders of the protandry sequence. The curled-back, purplish style branches are intact in picture. They receive pollen from visitors attracted by the still flying banners, or rather curving petals of this once in a lifetime event for a flower. The petal markings on the upper pair of petals are darker, more intense lower into the flower, probably a sophistication in the insect enticement.

After the flowering is done, the corkscrew-shaped fruit is released and wind dispersed, turning like a drill bit in the air. On the ground, the seed at the fruit's tip bores its way into the soil, enabled by its corkscrew back end. Then it waits for moisture to germinate (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; iNaturalist; https://opus.sanbi.org).