Huernia, succulent brother of the rainbow

This Huernia could not be fully identified, but the picture is worth posting for the plant’s sheer colour versatility. Astonishing as the privileged artist’s palette may be, the colour application on the eerie shapes might be inspirational not only for the painter, but also for the scientist: Biological processes resulting in these colour outcomes pose questions to botanist and organic chemist alike.

Interior decorators could learn something from the effects of juxtaposing unconventional hues in these combinations and such diversity.

Just how otherworldly are these things? How many are there? Organic shapes, free from any scale reference, might cause speculation as to the size of the beast. Is it huge, like an elephant? Possibly a Hubble photo from outer space?

For some, recognising Huernia in the toothed stem columns, there might only be concern about missing the small plants in the camouflage of the barren, gravelly ground.

Others might wonder about the concerted orientation of the stems. Could there be intelligence turning those stem-heads to observe some phenomenon out of camera range… or, more prosaically, where is north and from which side comes the sunlight?