Justicia adhatodoides flower

The orchid-like corolla of a Justicia adhatodoides flower can have surprising charm as seen here. The short-tubed, two-lipped structure shows its long (2,5 cm) upper lip that curves down, hood-like over the magenta to purple striped, three-lobed lower lip. Two long lateral lobes curve in sideways, slightly below the level of the lower lip.

This flower spike includes an obliquely shaped, closed white bud as well as several green, club-shaped fruits, some still topped by the persistent style of their lost flower.

These flowers aren’t always equally fragrant; maybe the carpenter bees are sharp-sighted enough to make scent redundant, similar to the situation sometimes found among humans (Coates Palgrave, 2002; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).