Eulophia ovalis var. bainesii inflorescence

The lax inflorescence of Eulophia ovalis var. bainesii shows its flowers well-spaced and spiralling up their stalk. The flower stalk elongates among the open flowers, twisting about while holding the green buds in waiting clustered densely together at the top.

The fairly large floral bracts are conspicuous, almost tepal size. Once the blooming phase is done, the ovary sags as vital processes no longer happen above it, but inside. The beautiful bits are then history and the seed production routine takes over.

All three flowering stages from bud and open flower to fruit development are present on the spike in the photo (Pooley, 1998).