Rabiea albinota fruit husk of long ago
Author: Ivan Lätti
Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch
The hardened but no longer functional Rabiea albinota capsule in picture has presumably done what was required of it a season or more ago. Hygrochastic, it would have repeatedly opened in response to moisture, releasing seed in instalments during optimal germination conditions.
Was it successful? No plant or plant part ever receives feedback concerning its performance. But species overall fare well when all parts work as they are supposed to in enough of the plants, season after season (Smith, et al, 2017; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org; https://www.worldfloraonline.org).