Orthochilus leontoglossus lip spots

Many flowers are congested in this nodding Orthochilus leontoglossus spike. The lip crest, outstanding flower feature, is covered in fleshy protuberances spotted dark brown sparsely. The ostentation is intended to attract and guide pollinators, not to honour them... but that sometimes amounts to the same.

The sepals and lateral petals have pointed tips, some of which curve back slightly. Bright yellow here, flower colour may also be white, lemon yellow or pink tinged green. There is a slender spur at the base of the lip not in view in this photo. The long, acutely pointed bracts, striped green and white are, however, more than visible. The flowerless bracts immediately below the inflorescence are bolder and longer (Pooley, 1998; Lowrey and Wright, 1987; iNaturalist).