Justicia petiolaris flowers

The narrow Justicia petiolaris sepals adhere to the corolla tube, the round-tipped green bracts behind them veer away. One of the flowers in picture shows its pair of stamens ending in dark anthers immediately below the less floral upper lip that is angled up. The mainly blue lower lip angles its three round-tipped lobes down. Vein lines are accentuated over the bulging white part of the lower lip.

Pollinators that land on this lower lip parking facility should have no problem in negotiating the climb to where the pollen is waiting. There should also be nectar waiting in the cup-shaped disc. The wide range of insects involved in the pollination of these flowers attract insectivorous birds. So, look out for macabre lunchtime shows in the floral settings on sunny days (Pooley, et al, 2025; Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist).