Satyrium longicauda var. longicauda

The safe place in grassland for geophytes to hide their rhizomes, corms and bulbs, the perennial parts, is underground. This protects the organs that must sprout annually against temperature extremes, feeding animals and veld fires. These cyclically replenished, living stores of growth resources bide their time until the onset of spring for making a dramatic annual entrance in the form of fresh above-ground components.

Admiration of the visible parts comes from three interested parties: pollinators visiting flowers, herbivores eating all on offer and human aesthetes that admire and photograph the presentations, but sometimes do harm by digging up plants to transplant them elsewhere or get rid of them for human developments of a great variety. 

Summer rain and heat bring a vigorous seasonal growth spurt, matching that of the surrounding grass, competing for access to sunlight. All to yield a harvest of seed that may ensure the appearance of offspring, every generation's contribution to species survival.

Satyrium longicauda var. longicauda participates in great style in the annual mayhem of this productive and reproductive fest.