Biology : |
Terrestrial robust herb, “most attractive”, 60-100 cm tall, but usually c. 50 cm; stem leafy; leaves densely imbricate, lanceolate-narrowly ovate, 15-40 cm long, base shortly sheathing; inflorescence imbricate, robust, 15-40 cm long, numerous-flowered; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, often overtopping the flowers; flowers downward-facing, colours generally varying, with hood purple, lateral sepals greenish silvery-white, petals and lip greenish, lip often with a large purple base; ovary 15-20 mm long, twisted; dorsal sepal hood-like, 12-18 mm long, 8-12 mm deep, with spur from a horizontal conical base, decurved, cylindric, 10-20 mm long; lateral sepals patent, oblong, acute, 12-16 mm long; petals lorate, acute-acuminate, inside hood, 8-10 mm long, ± distinctly 2-lobed, with a 5 mm long basal anticous lobe flanking stigma; lip patent, lorate-obovate, 5-10 mm long. |
|