Brunia noduliflora floral balls with protrusions

Volstruisies or Brunia noduliflora are notable in the winter fynbos when these globular, creamy white flowerheads abound. This plant seen in the Langkloof in a montane, sandstone setting was already in full bloom during May.

Although each of the numerous florets in the spherical head has five sepals and five petals as conventional flowers, none of those reaches beyond the surface of the dense sphere. It is only the five stamens and the two styles of each floret that stretch further, competing so blatantly for insect attention and the goal of pollination.

There are only six or seven Brunia species, all growing in the fynbos. Most of them have little difficulty in getting noticed (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Manning. 2007; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000).

There is more about this plant in the Brunia Album under Genera.