Gonialoe variegata, painted from a rich palette

The Little Karoo erupts like this in late winter or spring every few years, depending on the winter rain. Almost like the more famous spring-flower festivities occurring in the Namaqualand countryside.

The large clump of kanniedood, Gonialoe variegata, is abundantly covered in flowers in the foreground; an inflorescence grown from nearly every leaf rosette. Not too long ago the species was still considered to be an Aloe, now a kind of “angle aloe”.

The colouring is unusual: not quite red or pink as the flower colour of the species is often described, but cerise tending towards orange. The contrast against the yellow and green of the shorter mesembs surrounding the patch and the blue of the Swartberg Mountains in the background captivate in true Little Karoo style.

Vlok and Schutte-Vlok (2010) mention an ironic tale relating to the name of the plant: There is a habit among the local people to plant this succulent on family graves. The plant’s common name of kanniedood (cannot die) suggests the planting should have happened a little sooner, when the relative still had a garden.

Maybe the memory of the deceased survives better in those that performed the planting ritual. And who knows, maybe the spot marks a forgotten grave.