Pelargonium luridum closed flowers

The weather is inclement, and the Pelargonium luridum flowers have closed their petals. Maybe this closure protects ripe pollen from being washed away by rain? Clumping of moist pollen grains may also cause poorer dispersal. And the plants may time their open flower presentation periods to match pollinator activity patterns, likely to be reduced when rain approaches.

But closed petals when cold and wind approach may also protect delicate floral parts from damage.

This grassland scene was photographed in summer thunderstorm time in Mpumalanga (Pooley, et al, 2005; Manning, 2009; Germishuizen and Clarke, 2003; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).