Salvia lanceolata buds and calyces

Pale green, stem-tip buds of Salvia lanceolata growing in spaced, opposite pairs, and some old flower calyx remains are both present here. They all grow on dark purple upper stems and nod from short, equally dark purple pedicels. Some of the calyces that have already lost their corollas, are also sometimes still green but no longer buds.

The calyces are two-lipped and widely funnel-shaped, the upper lip three-lobed, the lower one two-lobed. About parallel vein ridges are longitudinal, conspicuous on both the lemon green smaller calyces in picture and the older, dull pink ones. The calyx surfaces appear coarsely textured from glands and fine hairs (Manning, 2009; Le Roux, et al, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Manning and Goldblatt, 1996; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist; https://pza.sanbi.org).