Satyrium longicauda var. jacottetianum flower spike

Satyrium longicauda var. jacottetianum grows up to 60 flowers in a somewhat loose spike of 20 cm long. The abrupt upwards bend in the lip flaps at the top of each flower is well illustrated in the flowers seen from the side.

The flowering stem of this orchid bears a few small bract-like sheathing stem leaves. Separate from the flower stem is the plant’s pair of thick, ovate basal leaves grown on a separate shoot.

The dull, purplish beige bracts among the flowers are all decisively folded down in picture, barring the few right at the top that are still losing their initial erect positions below the last flowers to open (Pooley, 1998; iNaturalist; www.africanorchids.dk).