Satyrium pulchrum S.D.Johnson & Kurzweil, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 127: 192 (1998).
Description.
Plant up to 400 mm tall, basal leaves fleshy, ovate-elliptic, up to 110 mm long, appressed flat onto the ground, cauline leaves conical and close to stem. Bracts deflexed at anthesis, 20–30 - 9–12 mm. Flower colour pink with a white patch on upper basal surface of petals and sepals. Scent weak, sweet, pronounced during the daytime. Sepals fused with petals for basal 1/3 of their length, narrow, apex rounded, 11–14´2–4 mm. Petals similar to sepals. Labellum galeate, angled forwards, aperture obovate, 9–10´5–8 mm, 7–10mm deep, ridged, apical flap 1–2mm in length, spurs 18–22mm long, emerging horizontally from base of galea, exceeding the ovary in length. Column 11–13mm long. Stigma about 2´3–4mm wide. Rostellum deeply bifid, acute with adjacent globose viscidia. Ovary 10–15mm long at anthesis.
Etymology:
The name refers to the attractive flowers.
Habitat:
Rock crevices and sandy pans on gneiss substrate. Flowering time. August–September.
Distribution:
W. Cape Prov.
