Pterygodium flanaganii flower spike from the top

    Pterygodium flanaganii flower spike from the top
    Author: Ivan Lätti
    Photographer: Judd Kirkel Welwitch

    This is what a Sani Pass Pterygodium flanaganii inflorescence looked like in its day from above.

    The pointed lips of the individual flowers are parallel-veined, erect and tongue-shaped, conspicuous in the flowers, also because of the cream-green to yellow lower parts of newly opened flowers. Older flowers lower down in the spike lose this brighter, yellowish feature, turned a dull pink. This is probably because their pollination window of opportunity has passed and the pollinators are not to waste energy and time on the floral have-beens. 

    The pink parts in picture may be lateral petals in some developmental stage. There may also be a spider or its remains on the flowers at the top of the spike (iNaturalist; http://www.africanorchids.dk).

    Total Hits : 7