Schizochilus cecilii subsp. culveri flowers

The yellow flowers of Schizochilus cecilii subsp. culveri are non-resupinate, i.e. not twisting around in the ovary to swap the median sepal and lip positions, the column presented upside down.

The flower segments protrude forward, not spreading but forming a small chamber or cup in front of the column. The lip (above) and lateral sepals, all similarly shallowly concave, respectively form the roof and walls of this chamber, while the straight lateral petals and median sepal serve as floor to the hollow where insects feed and fidget.

The sepals become 2,5 mm to 3,5 mm long, the spur on the three-lobed lip from 0,8 mm to 1 mm short (www.africanorchids.dk; iSpot; www.orchidspecies.com).