Pegolettia baccaridifolia fluffy flowerheads

When Pegolettia baccaridifolia has done blooming, ready for some rest, the flowerheads expand into these fluffy spheres as the involucres relinquish their grip to spread, pappus bristles taking centre stage.

The pappus attached to each fruit comprises a ring of long, straight, thread-like bristles. They are the wings allowing flight for the fruit to an undisclosed destination, the distance depending on the vagaries of wind on the day. Where it lands germination may follow, fulfilling the parent plant’s life purpose.

Note the green of the involucral bracts around the still closed flowerheads in the background. In the similar genus of Pteronia involucres are papery (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).