Serruria fucifolia curved stem

The mature Serruria fucifolia stem is red, its variously divided green leaves erect, spaced along the upper part.

The leaf segment tips are red, tapering abruptly to sharp points. Newest stem-tip leaves are pale cream-green, the mature ones deeper green to dark green. In habitat the leaves are usually greyer.

The old flowerheads in picture by now have straight styles.

Ants disperse the fruits, transporting them to their nests for eating the white, waxy elaiosome seed attachments. Thus “planted” safely underground, winter rain sees to their germination where mice that might eat the whole seed cannot reach them (Manning, 2009; Goldblatt and Manning, 1996; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; http://pza.sanbi.org).