Wiborgia

Some Wiborgia plants are known to be generally browsed by game and stock, also by visitors of the ilk in picture. Leaves, flowers and fruits may all be of interest, depending on the nature of the consumer. Best strategy is to produce enough of everything, weather permitting, to ensure that host plant objectives are realised, as well as pleasing all patrons.

This transaction was witnessed near Nieuwoudtville in August. What the Wiborgia gained here is uncertain. Maybe the visiting insect that laid eggs on the plant had already done its bit in the form of pollination, so this sacrifice can be borne philosophically, if wiborgias ever became that way inclined. For now, contributing is inevitable unless an obliging bird would arrive and...

There are nine Wiborgia species in South Africa, two consisting of two subspecies each. Wiborgias occur mainly in the west of the country in fynbos or renosterbos vegetation. About four of them occur in the Little Karoo.

All wiborgias have grey or dull green trifoliolate leaves and pea-type flowers, being part of the Fabaceae family. The oblong to rounded fruits are stalked and winged, carrying one or up to three seeds. The fruits earned the genus the common name of pennypods (Manning, 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; http://redlist.sanbi.org).