Pterygodium flanaganii inflorescence

Pterygodium flanaganii flowers are many and small, growing compactly above membranous bracts in a sturdy, cylindrical spike.

The three upper tepals cohere, forming the erect hood at the top of the flower. These being the dorsal sepal flanked by the two lateral petals. The two lateral sepals are positioned lower near the lip. Some tepals are covered in parallel brown lines. The column and two pollinia are set back in the flower centre.

This plant was photographed flowering in the east of Lesotho in January (iNaturalist; iSpot; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).