Pelargonium cucullatum fast after fire

This stand of pink flowering Pelargonium cucullatum plants in the foreground among the Kogelberg fynbos was seen in November. This is about the middle, and maybe the peak of the blooming season of the species.

The plants are making most of their opportunity, dominating in this young veld still recovering from the last fire. Every species, annual or perennial, reseeder or resprouter, has a natural growth rate, as well as a unique growth cycle. These are manifested in the phenology of the species, the study of the seasonal, life-cycle events and their timing, to be determined for every species in particular conditions. 

It seems unlikely that the P. cucullatum plants situated here will become totally swamped by slower, naturally taller shrubs completely, because of their natural height and their densely branched colony. And interesting how fast these plants have grown from seed. Most pelargoniums are reseeders, usually coming into their own later than the resprouters. There are, however, also caudiciform pelargoniums, plants with thickened woody bases between stems and roots at ground level, just below it, or partly above it. A caudex enables a plant thus endowed to regrow after fire, typically resprouting with, or even before rain soothes and boosts the burnt veld, sooner or later. 

But what tomorrow brings, tomorrow's observers will see. Nature always holds surprises. What is life without the surprises? The unusual and the unexpected do occur, particularly when least expected, even for those that have been observing, and forming opinions about how things will grow for the best part of a lifetime.