Saltera sarcocolla flowering lilac

Apart from the normal pink flower colour of Saltera sarcocolla, purple and rose flowers exist in the species as well. The one in picture, seen near Hermanus, is lilac with the usual white lower down on the lobes.

The four slightly incurved, matchstick stamens hold their positions around the erect style. They repeat the corolla lobe colouring in their anthers, reaching up to just below the quadrangular stigma that tops the style.

The pollen in these protandrous flowers ripens and is carried or blown away before the stigmas become receptive. This pattern is followed by many species that avoid self-pollination in their flowers. Self-pollination would be hard to avoid in this flower if male and female components ripened simultaneously (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Mustart, et al, 1997; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iNaturalist).