Nymania capensis old fruits without colour

These creamy white fruit capsules of Nymania capensis were seen near De Rust in January. The tree has usually finished fruiting by early summer, so the rose-red colouring of the balloon-like capsules is by now bleached out of them.

Lower growing and more broadly shaped shrubs sometimes occur, although the typical shape of N. capensis is narrowly erect, comprising multiple pale to dark grey stems that reveal bare patches among the leaves. Occasionally reaching 6 m in height, the tree or shrub typically grows to only 3 m in habitat (Coates Palgrave, 2002; www.plantzafrica.com).