Tanquana prismatica fruit

The fruit of Tanquana prismatica is a quite small, fleshy capsule, ten-locular and reddish to orange before it dries out to grey and brown. In picture some leaf pairs have disappeared, the dry capsules persisting, stand-alone in the sand.

The small flowers that precede these fruits have yellow petals, as do the flowers of the other two Tanquana species. The flowers are strongly fragrant. They open in the afternoon and close at night. Flowering happens in late autumn (Van Jaarsveld, et al, 2006; Smith, et al, 1998; Herre, 1971; iSpot; www.bidorbuy.co.za).