Brachycorythis tenuior inflorescence

The flourishing spike of a Brachycorythis tenuior inflorescence may be densely flowered and up to 16 cm long.

The dorsal sepal, the hood with its concomitant lateral sepals, covers the column of its flower on three sides, giving pollinators little chance of slipping past the sticky viscidia.

The lip, convex and fleshy, provides a colourful, landing pad for the flowers visitors, while the lateral sepals raise their arms in a fashion suggesting innocence or wonderment (Lowrey and Wright, 1987; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).