Kniphofia ritualis

From before midsummer to early autumn Kniphofia ritualis blooming brightens grassland on the Drakensberg.

Withdrawing seasonally into its rhizomes obviates an uneven fight with winter cold above-ground, in similar fashion to annuals that winter in seed form for reappearance as seedlings when spring rains fall. Woolly Helichrysum leaves insulate and conserves moisture. They also keep the cold out when snow dominates the scene.

When the tough season is over, colour is multiplied in rich tapestries of Helichrysum, Sutherlandia, Watsonia and many more. They all feed something, including multitudes of insects, birds and rodents like some Otomys species, vlei rats or groove-toothed rats that eat the grasses and what have you (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; Wikipedia).