Lessertia spinescens fruit

The inflated fruit of Lessertia spinescens are more conspicuous than the flowers that preceded them. The fruit looks like two WW I tin hats neatly attached to each other along their protruding circular brims, bulging in the centre on both sides.

As if the shape did not do it, the fruit colouring makes them special: Often two-toned, the large, random patches of purplish red and pale cream have glossy surfaces, membranous and rough in texture from many small veins.

The fruits dangle on longish stalks, their small bell-shaped calyces with pointed tips retained at the base. A tiny, pointed and curved tip is present on the opposite end. The fruit becomes about 1,5 cm in diameter (Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).