Satyrium stenopetalum subsp. brevicalcaratum flowers

Satyrium stenopetalum subsp. brevicalcaratum has narrow petals according to its specific name: stenos (Greek) meaning narrow and petalum (Latin) is a petal. The subspecies name indicates that the plant has short spurs, brevis (Latin) meaning short and calcar (Latin) is a spur.

This white-flowering plant was seen in the Gifberg during October, probably as far north as the plant may occur. Several Satyrium species cope in semi-arid conditions.

The inflorescence is lax, the pointed bracts erect. The sepals are free to near their base, recurving gradually; the lateral ones forming the widest laterally protruding parts of the flower, while the central one below is similarly shaped. The lateral sepals may be from 5 mm to 10 mm long.

The median petal with its two short spurs is at the top, Satyrium flowers not being resupinate. The lip forms a hood over the column. The thin white spurs are between 9 mm and 14 mm long. The narrow lateral petals recurve more than the sepals (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; iNaturalist).