Trachyandra displaying hysteranthy

These Trachyandra plants were found flowering near Springbok in Namaqualand at the end of April... not the regions famous spring flower season, but there is always something to see here, irrespective of the time of year.

These plants are presenting branched inflorescences without a leaf in sight. The winter rain that comes after flowering is used by such plants to grow leaves and replenish the underground rhizomes or tubers for growing new blooms in the next season. On the other hand, many Trachyandra species also grow synchronous leaves and inflorescences.

Several geophytes grow leaves after they have flowered. The phenomenon is called hysteranthy. According to Lichtfouse, et al, (Ed.) in Sustainable Agriculture (2009), hysteranthy can even be induced in a bulbous plant that normally presents synchronous leaves and flowers, by storing the dry bulbs for 35 days at 15? C.

Such are the wonderful ways of living things in a world of endless diversity in their adaptations (iSpot; Wikipedia).