Flower of Costus malortianus Flower of Costus malortianus showing corolla emerging from its protective subtending bract. To the right of the flower is an emerging bud that will open in one or two days. These extrafloral nectaries reward ants, who guard their resource keeping other herbivores away. The presence of the ant has no effect on the hermit hummingbird pollinators, which forage over large territories.
Plants pollinated by hermits tend to produce only one flower daily.