Mesembryanthemum crystallinum many capsules

There are pale and dry, chord-like stems along the ground holding up this multitude of stalked Mesembryanthemum crystallinum fruit capsules that have done their flowering. Pinkish purple, the capsules may in some cases be slightly bigger, due to their last sepal succulence still busy drying out. The beige ones are already dry.

All capsules are erect, the seeds not to be released prematurely, and not all on the same day. Some seeds that are ready wait in the cups for a delayed dispersal, while other travel straight away, spreading the seed survival risk in the interests of the species. This means the seeds are allowed to attempt germination at different times, missing the potential disaster of any particular day, whatever it may be.

If not all your children can survive the challenges of the day, spread the risk for some at least to continue the family line into the future. May those that read this never face the same dilemma. Brainless plants do it all the time (Van Rooyen and Van Rooyen, 2019; Smith, et al, 2017; Smith, et al, 1998; iNaturalist).