Fruiting on a Peltophorum africanum tree in January may be as lavish an affair as on this tree. In human terms it appears too out of breath for many leaves; they can return once the pods are dry and seed production accomplished.

In tree history this will go down as a good year. In nature a plant paces itself, flourishing in peak years, going slower in average ones and skipping fruiting in seasons involving hard times.

In modern, monoculture farming the bank does not readily allow the farmer annual production pace changes. The signs of a weak crop year are responded to on the farm by adding fertiliser, irrigation or whatever science dictates, forcing trees and annuals to perform maximally every year without fail.

Like force-feeding geese to deliver livers for foie gras.