Microloma calycinum twisted corolla lobes

The twisted lobe tips of Microloma calycinum corollas that physically close the flowers bring a certain kind of ice cream to mind, but for the suspect, off-green colouring. Children mostly relish ice cream of all colours indiscriminately. M. calycinum in turn is palatable to game and stock irrespective of its hue.

For sunbirds Microloma delicacies are an altogether different matter. They pierce these closed, twisted corollas effectively for accessing the nectar. The unintended consequence of the pollinia inside the tube becoming attached to their tongues facilitates pollination.

The birds remain oblivious of such matters, retaining their focus as well as their sunbird relevance in ecology.

These closed corollas also exclude many inefficient pollinator insect species, reserving the nectar spoils for sunbirds, the preferred suppliers.

The photo was taken near Steinkopf in Namaqualand (Grenier, 2019; Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).