Eulophia elegans Schltr.

General Description

Terrestrial herb 60–125 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, ellisoid, 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.3 cm in diameter; roots 2 mm in diameter.Leaves 3–4, usually developed at flowering time, 24–45 × 1–5 cm, erect, lanceolate or oblanceolate, plicate, the lowest sheath-like.Inflorescence rather laxly 9–10-flowered; scape with 4–5 papery sheaths.Pedicel and ovary 15–30 mm long, straight or slightly upcurved; bracts 10–60 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, spreading, sometimes scarious.Sepals and petals green with purple-brown net veining; lip side lobes green with purple veins, mid-lobe purple, the apex white, with long purple or white papillae.Dorsal sepal 12–20 × 4–5 mm, oblong, acute, slightly keeled on the outside, semi-erect; laterals similar but slightly larger and oblique, spreading to projecting.Petals 11–15 × 5–6 mm, oblong-elliptic, obtuse, lying over the column.Lip projecting, slightly recurved, 14–20 × 7–15 mm when flattened, 3-lobed, with a callus of 2 ridges in the basal half; side lobes erect, rounded; mid-lobe to 10 × 6 mm, oblong-flabellate, obtuse, covered with papillae 3–4 mm long.Spur 2–2.5 mm long, conical.Column 7–9 mm long, arched; foot 3.5 mm long; anther cap with erect, bilobed appendage.Capsule pendent, 20–25 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 60–125 cm. tall. Perennating organ subterranean, tuberous, ellipsoidal, 2–2.5 cm. long, 1–1.3 cm. diameter; roots 2 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 3–4, plicate, erect, lanceolate to oblanceolate, acute, 24–40 cm. long, 1.4–3.5 cm. wide, lowermost sheath-like. Inflorescence produced before or with leaves, 9–20-flowered; peduncle 8 mm. diameter, covered by 4–5 papery sheaths; rhachis 12–38 cm. long; bracts spreading, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 9–60 mm. long. Flowers spreading; sepals and petals green with red-brown veins; lip white at apex, with purple papillae and green side lobes veined with purple; pedicel and ovary 16–30 mm. long. Dorsal sepal narrowly oblong, acute, 12–14 mm. long, 4 mm. wide, keeled on outside; lateral sepals similar but oblique at base, 15–20 mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide. Petals oblong-elliptic, obtuse, 11–15 mm. long, 4.5–5 mm. wide, lip 3-lobed, 14–20 mm. long, 7–15 mm. wide; side lobes oblong-elliptic, rounded in front; mid-lobe decurved, oblong, obtuse; callus of 2 basal ridges, densely long-papillate in front on mid-lobe; spur short, conical, 2–2.5 mm. long. Column 7–9 mm. long; foot 3.5 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 20–25 mm. long. Fig. 99/10–18.

Habitat

In wet grassland at edge of riparian forest; 1000–1650 m.

Submontane grassland and dambo margins

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:2. 1998

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 60–125 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, ellisoid, 2–2.5 cm long, 1–1.3 cm in diameter; roots 2 mm in diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–4, usually developed at flowering time, 24–45 × 1–5 cm, erect, lanceolate or oblanceolate, plicate, the lowest sheath-like.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence rather laxly 9–10-flowered; scape with 4–5 papery sheaths.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 15–30 mm long, straight or slightly upcurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 10–60 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate, spreading, sometimes scarious.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals and petals green with purple-brown net veining; lip side lobes green with purple veins, mid-lobe purple, the apex white, with long purple or white papillae.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal 12–20 × 4–5 mm, oblong, acute, slightly keeled on the outside, semi-erect; laterals similar but slightly larger and oblique, spreading to projecting.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 11–15 × 5–6 mm, oblong-elliptic, obtuse, lying over the column.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip projecting, slightly recurved, 14–20 × 7–15 mm when flattened, 3-lobed, with a callus of 2 ridges in the basal half; side lobes erect, rounded; mid-lobe to 10 × 6 mm, oblong-flabellate, obtuse, covered with papillae 3–4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur 2–2.5 mm long, conical.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 7–9 mm long, arched; foot 3.5 mm long; anther cap with erect, bilobed appendage.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule pendent, 20–25 mm long.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: threatened. Confidence: low confidence