Mesembryanthemum barklyi nearing the end

A multitude of dry Mesembryanthemum barklyi fruit capsules are still in position on the dead branches of this plant, although the seeds themselves may have mostly been dispersed.

Each capsule has five valves, beige to grey when dry. The capsules in picture are mostly open, positioned in an about horizontal plane as the earlier inflorescence had stood itself.

The flowers that preceded these fruits were white, pink or greenish. They open daily by noon and close at dusk. The petals spread to a diameter of about 3,5 cm.

Flowering happens from late in spring until after midsummer. The photo was taken in August (Le Roux, et al, 2005; Eliovson, 1990; iNaturalist).