Trachyandra divaricata open capsules

Some of the fruit capsules of this Trachyandra divaricata plant, seen in January, have already dehisced, i.e. opened for releasing their seeds to grow when conditions are favourable. This will probably happen by next spring after the winter rain, or they will just become humus if they do not serve as food to something hungry. Nothing goes to waste in nature!

The colour change of the open capsules to a pale buff with wrinkles added by the normal desiccation can be observed.

The younger capsules that are still reddish, closed and only beginning to dry out, are positioned nearer the tips of the fruiting branches. Flowers of plants in the Asphodelaceae family start opening from the lowest one in the raceme, making the top fruit the youngest, the last to disperse its seeds. The longer the period of seed dispersal lasts, the more the probability increases that some seeds will find favourable germination conditions.