A Drosanthemum celebration

This display of purple Drosanthemum flowering was seen on abandoned farm fields near Barrydale during October. The sprawling, shallowly domed plants produced numerous white-centred mesemb flowers in the afternoon sunlight. Drosanthemum latipetalum or D. tuberculiferum are possibilities, but close inspection didnt happen.

Perennials taking over previously ploughed land, compared to the annual daisies dominating in Namaqualand, yield a different effect. The rainfall is a bit higher here and the soil possibly less sandy, allowing other growth patterns to last better beyond the spring focus.

Shrubby diversity takes root. It provides durable pioneer shelter for housing a wider ranging species mix. This continues to multiply in biological complexity should the land remain undisturbed henceforth.

It may even acquire the appearance of proper, pristine veld. The original character of the vegetation that first met destruction here will, however, never return to be witnessed by those that still see the plough rust.