Gomphocarpus fruticosus follicle

The ovoid, inflated fruit of Gomphocarpus fruticosus has an elongated tip, attenuating narrowly and sometimes curving. The fruit is a follicle, defined as a dry fruit derived from a single carpel that opens on one side only, releasing its seeds.

The slightly greener seam where the follicle in picture will open when ready is visible, running down the centre of the fruit. The fruit surface in the photo varies in colour, yellow-green and almost white in parts, maybe beginning to dry out already.

Many fleshy projections, thin, soft and pliant are scattered along the surface; their possible function is a point to ponder. But they are there, grown generation after generation from valuable resources, evolved to do something of benefit to the plant; plants that did not grow them are not around or no longer around.

The photo was taken in Gauteng in January (Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; www.plantzafrica.com).