Pachypodium saundersii fruit

The fruits of Pachypodium saundersii are twin opposing follicles, cylindrical in shape and tapering to narrowly pointed tips as in the photo.

This plant was seen in the Sabie area in July, midwinter, ensconced snugly in a crevice of a huge granite slab. While the seeds are ripening, the plant is living off its saved-up stem succulence through the dry season.

When the rains come, this season’s fruits will be history. The seeds will be gone to start lives of their own if possible and here new leaves and flowers will sprout vigorously to do it all over again.

The purplish seams on top of the dehiscent follicles will open soon when all is ready for the big event of the “graduation” of the seed.