Pterygodium nigrescens, one of many grassland orchids

This Pterygodium nigrescens inflorescence was photographed in northern KwaZulu-Natal grassland. The tubers survive grass fires, but flowering is not dependent upon fire.

The flowers secrete small quantities of floral oil, collected by bees of the Rediviva genus. In regions of the plant’s distribution where these bees do not occur, such as fynbos in the south, self-pollination solves the problem.

In evolution a problem is solved by natural intraspecies individual differences, the generating of various forms. If some of them suit and overcome the challenges of the day and place, i.e. are compatible with prevailing or emerging conditions, the species continues. Otherwise, the whole species disappears. This phenomenon follows the principle of natural selection, i.e. the discarding of all inappropriate varieties via death before setting seed, the ”failed experiments" in the overall procreative activity of the species. The survivors are the ones suited to the prevailing conditions, the adapted newly extant generation, the others extinct and history.

The roots of this plant have been used by indigenous populations to concoct infusions for warding off evil. Flower colour and shape probably elicit a sense of wonderment, triggering ideas of unusual powers. Superstitious and high suggestibility minds are often associated with the prescientific era, representing yet another kind of thinking error (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).