Kniphofia caulescens protruding stamens and styles

Close-up, the long exserted Kniphofia caulescens stamens of the tubular, yellow flowers hold chunky anther oblongs at the ready for brushing incidents with insects and sunbirds. The styles become exserted later, maybe even further, when the stamens in Kniphofia flowers often become retracted, avoiding or minimising self-pollination.

The younger buds up top are still red until they open. Many insects can’t see red colouring, their sight shifted to shorter wavelength colours, including ultraviolet. The open flowers are therefore more striking to them than the buds that still lack food value. The red may appear grey or black to such eyes. Butterflies, or some of them are possibly endowed differently, may possibly see a wider colour spectrum. Many flowers for many insect eyes! De gustibus non disputandum (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; Wikipedia; https://link.springer.com).