Eulophia tenella colours

The Eulophia tenella inflorescence is a densely flowered spike carrying from 5 to 25 flowers. Tenella (Latin) means delicate, referring to the growth habit. The plant in flower is not a strong presence in the summer grass, requiring vigilance to be spotted.

Brick red to brown predominates in the inflorescence of the photo, much of it embellished by shine. The stalk of the spike is green; the narrow, pointed floral bracts pale green to cream.

The lateral petals, creamy yellow on their outer surfaces, add various hues of the fleeting red-brown fashion on their insides, apart from random yellow and green speckling as well as shade variations.

The flowers of this Eulophia never open with much conviction like those that spread their sepals widely. The petals and sepals soon subside over the lip as they age. This orientation is fairly similar to their opening phase, apart from the ovary now also slumping tiredly into a droop of final abandon. Still, on its inside the essential process of seed formation is progressing, unseen but effectively, fulfilling lifes purpose (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Pooley, 1998).