Pachypodium namaquanum buds

    Pachypodium namaquanum buds
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Thabo Maphisa

    At bloomtime Pachypodium namaquanum produces a dense, stalkless mass of stem-tip flowers among the spines and inside the ring of leaf stalks.

    Only buds have formed thus far on the plant in picture. The five sepals are hairy in brown-red among the leaves, the corollas being prepared inside. When the flowers have developed the spines will be hidden by the longer corollas.

    The spines on emerging stem-tip tubercles among the flowers spell promise and intent for a future in the range of martial arts practised in the domain of plants, serving to protect flowers until the setting of seed.

    Flowering happens from late winter to early summer, usually after rain (Frandsen, 2017; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Eliovson, 1990; Wikipedia).

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