Microdon dubius flowers

The flowers of Microdon dubius are stalkless, growing in long spikes.

The corolla tube is long and thin, usually ascending near the stem and curving outwards in its upper part. The five small, spreading corolla lobes are oblong, their tips rounded. Flower colour varies, often yellow with purple, brown or maroon petal lobes. In the photo the pale yellow or cream around the mouth ends in dark purplish maroon lobe tips; the tube is white below and faintly purple above its bend.

There are short, pale or dull green bracts, oval in shape with acutely pointed tips, joined to the corolla at the flower base, the lower bract markedly bigger than the others. This plant has only two stamens; it appears as if only the style that is supposed to have five lobes is exserted from flowers in the photo. These flowers are strongly scented at night.

Flowering occurs from late winter to midsummer (Manning, 2007; Bean and Johns, 2005; iSpot).