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. namanquensis leaves are the couple of stubby red columns on the right that appear gnarled and exhausted in the photo.

Contrary to the sorry appearance of the leaves, beside them some well-formed flowers luxuriate, defying the challenging elements in the Richtersveld desert. Dull pinkish to beige-brown buds with pointy “ears” and differing 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 posterity.

These seemingly endless bare slopes and plains rolling into the distance bear witness to countless micro-battles fought by 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).