Delosperma carolinense lush fruit

When the fruit capsules of Delosperma carolinense are young and fleshy, the tops are dull purple-red and translucent. The five locules have their angled valve-tips join neatly in the centre of a wheel-like structure with no rotational prospects.

The pointed sepals in picture still tower over the soft fruit surfaces covering the unripe seeds. The plant’s leaves are also taller than the developing capsule, sometimes close enough to support what is most important in the plant’s life, viz. setting seed.

Parts of other, alien plants are conveniently close to help in this picture. Protection is only needed until the capsule is dry and the fruit ripe. By then, damage causing seed dispersal is not a problem any longer, although the functional opening structures that systematically free the seeds when the rain comes are more effective (Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).