Stenoglottis woodii flowers

The loose inflorescence of Stenoglottis woodii bears from 5 to 40 flowers. Flower colour is white, pale pink or rosy red, usually with a few purple spots upon the three-lobed lip. The lip is larger than the other segments, from 1 cm to 1,4 cm in length. Unlike some other Stenoglottis species this plant has a narrow spur on its lip, becoming from 1,5 mm to 3 mm long, straight or slightly curved.

The lateral sepals are ovate with obtusely pointed tips, up to 6 mm long; the dorsal one is symmetrical while the laterals are oblique. The ovate lateral petals are up to 5 mm long. They point forward under the dorsal sepal, closing in over the column in the photo.

Flowering happens from mid-spring to autumn. The plants may be pollinated by small moths (Pooley, 1998; www.plantzafrica.com; www.africanorchids.dk).