Salvia aurea stem bearing flowers

The warm orange-brown colouring on the prominently curved upper lips of these Salvia aurea corollas tends to fade to a dull brown as the flowers age.

The greenish, gland-dotted calyces, purplish on the inside, spread their lobed lips around the rest of the flowers. These calyces will last quite a bit longer than the corollas, giving the impression of being complete flowers themselves.

The short pedicels, calyces and corollas are all hairy on the plant in picture, while both calyx and corolla show roughly uneven, even wrinkly surfaces (Manning, 2007; iNaturalist; www.plantzafrica.com).