Erica brachialis ovary bursting from its corolla

Some bulging Erica brachialis ovaries are maturing under the brown, spent corollas near this stem-tip. The globular green bodies becoming fruits are bursting from their shrivelling covers while the long, far exserted styles remain attached to their tips. The fleshy green or orange fruits ripen but remain, retaining their seeds on the plant for some years.

The sepals, still in their spreading positions as way back on the young flowers, are paler than the leaves in the photo, otherwise none the worse for wear.

The white hairs upon the corolla tubes in their old age seem to be growing in rows, a feature less noticed on some young flower tubes (Manning and Helme, 2024; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Baker and Oliver, 1967; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).