Kinked rain tree stem

Mountain life can be eventful, surroundings adding the unexpected in uneven doses to the genetic endowment that keeps a species recognisable. This rain tree ended up with a trunk that would perplex its Philenoptera violacea parents.

Deviations from the straight and not so narrow are part of the spice of life, added according to the quirks of the case. If seed is set here close to the Limpopo River, there is every chance that later generations will continue the proud lineage of these spring-flowering trees on crooked or erect stems.

Mauve-purple with some variations, flower colour is in the genes, not the external influences. No matter how the stem meanders (Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997).