Viscum rotundifolium fruit

The fruits of Viscum rotundifolium, in Afrikaans rooivoëlent (red birdlime or red mistletoe), are intended to be noticed. See the colour, shape and size differences of berries at varying developmental stages.

Colour contrast is an important media tool of nature; red often carrying the powerful message. Even if one has no intention of eating any part of this festive display, the eye will record! The gaze will hover briefly or rest for a prolonged exposure to activate some unoccupied brain cells into archiving activity. Consciously there may be no knowledge of spontaneous rapid eye movement, taking in numerous elements of detail to satisfy the brain that adequate information upload has been achieved.

At the end of the day or the trip a pleasant sensation will accompany the moment of recalling the sighting. Cortical filing will relate the retained record to previous sightings of this plant in memory, and, of course, to similar plant images and colours not related to plants at all, still lurking inside, deeply or in reach. Forgetfulness will blur them all; dreams and the subconscious will belabour them into fantasies, favoured or fearful.

Digital photos will add corrections and transform memory into what was never observed by the eye.