Polystachya mauritiana panicle

The many-flowered inflorescence of Polystachya mauritiana in the photo branches into a panicle of several racemes, the terminal one the largest. Inflorescences become up to 45 cm long.

Purplish or green bracts with pointed tips adhere to the stem where each branch is attached to it. Smaller bracts subtend the individual flowers. Flowers sometimes tend to be concentrated on one side of the stem (Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; www.orchidspecies.com; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).