Fockea capensis, kambro

Browsing of the Fockea capensis leaves by stock and game in the Little Karoo veld also involves cropping of branches as seen here. Much-branched, the plant assumes a shrub-like shape from serving as food.

Sessile, yellow-green leaves are spaced enough (or removed sufficiently by tongues, teeth and lips) to allow sight of the reddish-brown stems. When new growth is left to develop freely, the climbing or twining feature of the F. capensis stems becomes more plausible.

In olden times a bigger proportion of local people knew the kambro in the veld. Those people were particularly aware of the edible underground caudex. There are now many more people living in the region, possibly fewer of whom knowing their veld plants. And those that do, may do so from books. The information explosion hits selectively.

Competitiveness in humanity develops superior ability in some for making the rare plant species grow. The love of money may turn this skill into a marketable commodity. Breaches in ethics cause the countryside to be depleted of its pretty plants when greater numbers flock in, following the trend. This creates jobs for those playing at nature conservation. And so, progress does feed people.

Somewhere, far away from towns, unnoticed humble souls following simple lifestyles in which cooking fires win against television, can show where the kambro still grows. They may know how the plant looks in every season and still use them, without ever hearing the big word Latin names hiding in books and the heads of funny town people (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010).