Calodendrum capense preparing to flower

A stem-tip beginning of a Calodendrum capense inflorescence may be an ambitious structure capable of profuse blooming. These inflorescences become up to 20 cm long.

There are buds near to and others far from opening, present together from top to bottom of the panicle of racemes. This is why C. capense trees in bloom are noticed at a distance, even in a forest canopy, delivering the abundance of flowers that attracts pollinators from near and far.

This is a differently evolved survival strategy from those inflorescences that start opening at either top or bottom, taking their chances against the prevailing challenges, each in its particular and specific manner.

Evolutionary life has this way of spreading its risk by continually differentiating its multitude of species to cover all bases. All kinds of eggs in all kinds of baskets with untold variations in methods employed, offer the best chances for something to make it, whatever the adversity. Life itself is both the richest, most inveterate gambler of all time and the most concerned protector of its interests there will ever be.

Back to the buds: Smaller buds are also present all over the panicle, interspersed with the bigger, developed ones, ensuring a high level of protracted blooming as open flowers replace faded ones everywhere in the inflorescence until the season concludes.

Flowering peaks in early summer, but may last from midwinter to early autumn, sometimes split into two seasons at the coast of KwaZulu-Natal (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Schmidt, et al, 2002; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Van Wyk and Van Wyk, 1997; Pooley, 1993).