Eulophia parvilabris flower

Eulophia parvilabris gets its specific name from its small lip, the meaning of the Latin parvilabris. The flower is unlike most Eulophia flowers in not being resupinate, the lip positioned at the top of the flower. E. macowanii is another, bigger-lipped, non-resupinate member of the Eulophia genus.

The two large cream-coloured petals are positioned below the flower centre, one overlapping the other. The green sepals are smaller than the petals.

The small, cylindrical spur, reddish purple in colour with whitish tip, grows from the back of the flowers lip. It can be seen above several flowers in the photo. The central lobe of the lip is pointed upwards. It has two, even smaller lateral lobes flanking the column. They have some dark purplish red colouring, serving both as invitation and route sign to insects (Pooley, 1998; iSpot).