Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum dry fruit

Dry Osteospermum sinuatum var. sinuatum fruit have papery, pale beige wings. The involucral bracts are now erect, veering away from the fruit waiting to depart on the wind.

The brown seed in the fruit centre is more substantial than the wings at this stage. Dispersing this seed is after all the purpose of growing the whole flying contraption.

The background contains glimpses of more of the plant’s seed transportation craft in the making (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Manning and Goldblatt, 1997; iNaturalist).