Huernia namaquensis

The green leaves in the background have nothing to do with the flowers in picture. This Huernia namaquensis plant does have leaves here among all the dry and dead remains, but different ones: The H. namaquensis leaves are the couple of reclining, stubby red columns on the right in picture that appear gnarled and exhausted.

In contrast to the sorry state of the leaves, some well-formed flowers luxuriate beside them, defying the Richtersveld challenges for now. Dull pinkish to beige-brown buds with pointy “ears” and differences in size, promise to continue this good fight by opening soon. At least some of these flowers may be rewarded, allowed to set seed for another generation aspiring to posterity.

These seemingly endless bare slopes and plains rolling into the distance bear witness to countless micro-battles fought by the small plants, ongoing heroic struggles where victory banners in the form of flourishing blooms are raised periodically. This is how life has been in these parts for a long time and will hopefully continue, DVWP (Deo volente, weather permitting).