Eulophia hereroensis flower

The six tepals of a Eulophia hereroensis flower that form the perianth diverge in orientation. The three erect, oblong sepals are fleshy, glistening with surface cells and longitudinally vein-lined. Olive-green in the centre on the inside, the sepal margins are brick-red to purplish, as are their outside surfaces. These sepals are unlike those of the typical Eulophia flower, with not much difference between the dorsal sepal and the lateral pair.

The inner tepals, the pair of broad, lateral petals and the prominent lip below are paler in colour and cohere, pointing forward. The downward in-curving tip of the spur at the base of the lip resembles the sepals.

The sepals become about 1,5 cm long, the lateral petals about 1,2 cm and the lip up to 1,5 cm (www.zimbabweflora.co.zw; http://wildorchids.co.za).