They look like typical seed pods/fruits of a Stapeliad. Its the right
provenance and could be a Sarcocaulon. Definitely isn't Hyobanche or
Scrophulariaceae and I doubt very much if it's parasitic.

Phil


"mel turner" wrote in message
...
"Malcolm Manners" wrote in message
news:SoE4f.7171$l_2.403@trnddc02...

Thanks again, Mel Turner, for identifying my Thonningia sanguinea.

Here's another puzzler -- found in the Springbok area of Namaqualand,
South Africa. I'm thinking perhaps Cytinus sanguineus, in Cytinaceae,
but can find only photos of pistillate flowers, and these are staminate.
Descriptions do say the "staminal column sticks out of the flower." But
I'm guessing here.

Anyone know for sure? thanks.

I don't know for sure, but I get an impression of a "scroph"-like
tubular corolla in your photograph.

Perhaps it's Hyobanche sanguinea? [botanists seem fond of naming
red-flowered S. African parasites "sanguinea" and "sanguineus"]

This looks pretty similar to yours:
http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/S...che_sang1.JPEG

partly excavated:
http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/S...che_sang2.JPEG

cheers