The lip does indeed look like it is inside out rather than upside down.

This brings to mind another word of interest to orchid collectors:
resupinate
(Botany) (of plant parts) reversed or inverted in position, so as to appear
to be upside down
[ETYMOLOGY: 18th Century: from Latin resupinatus bent back, from resupinare,
from re- + supinare to place on the back; see supine]

Orchids flowers are resupinate. I think this is part of the definition of
what makes a flower an orchid. When they bloom the normal orchid flower is
upside down. When the bud forms on the inflorescence it forms right side
up. The lip structure is modified tissue built from what was once the upper
petal of the inner whorl. As the flower develops and prepares to open it
twists half way around at the base of the ovum so the lip is pointing
downward and it opens in the position we consider to be normal and upside
right. So orchids are resupinate; the upper petal of the inner whorl points
downward when the flower opens and the lower sepal of the outer whorl point
upward. Only a few are non-resupinate.

I wonder if there is a word to describe what the lip of this flower did. I
don't think resupinate covers it. And I recently learned why the word
peloric doesn't really apply here either.

"Bob Walsh" wrote in message
news:xFvEb.83546$8y1.290916@attbi_s52...
Now posted on ABPO.

Mistakenly under the Phrag Sorcerers Apprentice thread and a big file to
boot. If you prefer a smaller file let me know or post on ABPO and I will
get it too you.

I couldn't get the small ones on a news group.

Bob