Heliophila coronopifolia pods

The long, thin fruit pods of Heliophila coronopifolia are stalked and spaced upon their erect stem, getting ready in August after bloomtime. Some used-up flower petals, discoloured dark blue, are hanging on like washing forgotten on the line.

The pod is beaded where the seeds inside bulge against their green covering. If there’s rain next winter, spring will bring another show of this blue sporrie on the sandy Namaqualand flats from the seeds still to fall (Manning, 2007; Le Roux, et al, 2005).