Satyrium princeps flower faces hiding

The bract over the face of a Satyrium princeps flower is widest where the central column of the flower is situated inside the hood, lending most early protection to the floral equipment vital for reproduction.

The shy, young flowers take their time in curving their ovaries to push the bracts out of their faces. Older flowers lower down manage to bend the bract near its base, allowing it to fold down into a deflexed position for the flower to come into its own and face its pollinators.

The stout inflorescence is densely flowered, producing from 13 to 33 flowers. The flowering season is short, mainly mid-spring.

The species is one of only three satyriums confirmed to be pollinated by some sunbird species. The other two, S. carneum and S. coriifolium, are also unscented like S. princeps. Not all agree that S. princeps is odourless.

The spurs appear like long hair tresses, exceeding the ovary in length; much thinner but more coloured. Sunbird beaks will fit well into the thin, gradually curving spurs (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; www.plantzafrica.com).