Satyrium trinerve and visiting bee

The bee caught in the photo upon this Satyrium trinerve flower represents one of the pollinator species that visit here. The visitor will bend flower segments to reach its nectar goal, simultaneously reciprocating for the plant’s objective of transferred pollen also to be achieved.

The erect inflorescence becomes from 5 cm to 25 cm long, carrying up to 130 flowers. Surely enough for several bees to work with good effect.

The bracts are sometimes much longer than the flowers. They probably facilitate pollinator arrivals and departures (Pooley, 1998; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).