Pegolettia baccaridifolia shrub, bedroom or dining room

This spreading Pegolettia baccaridifolia shrub was seen near Addo, growing in a grassy spot in silty shale. An Afrikaans common name for this plant, ghwarrieson (guarri sun), likens it to a guarri tree, Euclea undulata. The two species are found in widely overlapping distributions, the leaf undulations suggesting similarity.

Distance has been created here among foliage clusters of the main branches via stem elongation, resulting in a wide, flat-topped, slightly loose structure. A good proportion of new leaves are thus reached by sunlight, maybe bringing about the sun part in the ghwarrieson name. These plants are mostly found in full sun. The old, woody branches hold it all together firmly; close to the ground and useful to those in need of a lair or shelter from sun.

Lizards, insects and mammals choose such places as apartment buildings in the veld, or for ambushing some others with such plans, only to end up as somebodys dinner. Being eaten has meaning; a worthy cause, depending on how you look at it (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; iSpot).