Pegolettia retrofracta ripe fruit

When the Pegolettia retrofracta fruits in the head are ripe, the involucre below lets go of them by spreading its bracts. These bracts held them firmly before in a cup-like grip.

The individual fruit is cylindrical, ribbed and glandular-hairy. It is fitted with a pappus at the top, consisting of an ascending ring of thread-like bristles facilitating wind dispersal (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; iNaturalist).