Brunsvigia orientalis seed-head

The dried-out seed-head of Brunsvigia orientalis is set free too embark on its seed dispersal mission, once the base of the sturdy flattened scape dries out and is released from the top of the bulb. By this time the seeds formed in each flower’s ovary are dry, ready to roll. This rolling action of the ball-shaped dry structure releases the seeds in dribs and drabs as the wind pushes the seed-head hither and thither across the land on an erratic route.

The significance of one more common name of B. orientalis becomes clear from this: The Afrikaans name of perdespookbossie (little bush that spooks horses), feeds the imagination about calamities that must have befallen many a hapless rider when one of these pale, rolling and bouncing seed-heads was suddenly sighted by the unsuspecting horse!