Gomphocarpus cancellatus fruit remains

The fruits of wild cotton or in Afrikaans the gansiebos (little goose bush), as Gomphocarpus cancellatus is colloquially known, have given the plant these two common names. The “little goose” of the gansiebos is seen in the fruit shape that may exceed 5 cm in length. It is oval, inflated and fleshy that tapers to a pointed tip.

The fruits in picture have already dried and opened, the seeds dispersed. The hard, purple seeds disappear on the wind, assisted by white downy appendages called comas that function like tiny parachutes. This white fluffy material of the comas brought about the wild cotton name. If conditions for germination are good at the spot where the parachute lands, the mission of starting a new plant has been accomplished.

Only some dried husks of spent fruits remain in picture. The surfaces are smooth on the inside, while pointy, dry protuberances are present on the outsides (Manning, 2007; www.plantzafrica.com).