Habenaria epipactidea flowers with scoop handles

Inspecting the Habenaria epipactidea flowers in the photo reveals a bit of dorsal sepal tip peeping out between the two large lateral petals at the top of each flower. The dominant petals are nearly white with green veins streaked across their fleshy surfaces.

Whiteness is stronger on the long straight lips below, their margins rolled under, achieving a cylindrical look. The tiny side-lobes of the lip remind of seal whiskers.

The rostellum lobe, triangular in shape and faintly green in its centre, is a conspicuous part of the column in the heart of the flower (Pooley, 1998; Lowrey and Wright, 1987).