Psychotria capensis subsp. capensis two different stages

    Psychotria capensis subsp. capensis two different stages
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Francelle van Zyl

    Two contrasting developmental stages in the phenology of Psychotria capensis subsp. capensis are represented by the yellow flowers and red fruits, here occurring concurrently. The plant routinely carries budding flowers and ripe fruits simultaneously. This is the more likely explanation than that two separate plants are performing in their own time, merely rooted very close together. Flowering of this plant can occur over an extended season, often well into the time when older inflorescences have already set fruit. The fruit clusters ripen slowly and unevenly.

    This clever observation may be refuted if two stems are identified growing very close together but separately. The homework wasn’t done, but you could check the tree (or trees), to the left of the main steps inside Kirstenbosch, entering from the northerly gate by the nursery (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993; iNaturalist).

    Total Hits : 9