Artwork 54 The Night-Flowering Capparis
Section 31
Plants of the Arid Zone—Desert Virtuosi
Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, South Australia
- 1. Capparis mitchellii (wild orange)
from the artist
We have found Capparis bushes in numerous places, including in amongst low shrubs and bushes on a clifftop located on an isolated plateau in the South Australian desert.
In the Gammon Ranges (northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia) we discovered the lovely Capparis mitchellii (“wild orange”). This small tree was flowering profusely at the side of the rough dirt entrance road to Weetootla bush camp site in 2000 and had many buds and fruits when we saw it again in 2001. The flowers bloomed at night, to escape the heat, and these striking flowers inspired this painting, The Night-Flowering Capparis.
A full Moon provides a golden-bronze aura to the surrounding clouds, and the plant glows as the coolness of night encourages flowers to open. They last until daylight heat descends upon them mid-morning the next day.
