Eulophia euantha Schltr.

First published in Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 53: 586 (1915)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tanzania to S. Tropical Africa. It is a pseudobulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 20–40 cm tall.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 2–2.5 cm long, 1.6–2 cm in diameter, irregularly shaped, forming a chain; roots 1–2 mm in diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–3, 12–45 cm × 1.5–10 mm, linear, acuminate, ribbed, grass-like, absent or partly developed at flowering time.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence densely 4–12-flowered; scape with 3 short sheaths in the basal half.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary c. 10 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts spreading, 10–25 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers not opening wide, spreading at first and becoming nutant, lilac-pink or pale pink with a large purple blotch on the lip.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 19–33 × 5–12 mm, oblong, acute or acuminate, the laterals oblique and slightly keeled on outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 17–25 × 5–9 mm, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 16–25 × 10–19 mm when flattened, 3-lobed; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe up to 15 mm wide, transversely oblong to orbicular, obtuse; callus of 2 papillate ridges from the base to the junction of the lobes, with sparse, long papillae on the mid-lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur 2–4 mm long, cylindrical, horizontal or incurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 4–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule c. 25 mm long, pendent.
[FZ]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1968

Morphology General Habit
A terrestrial herb 20–40 cm. tall.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, irregularly spherical, potato-like, 2–2.5 cm. long, 1.6–2 cm. diameter, in strings; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 1–2, erect, grass-like, linear, acuminate, 12–32 cm. long, 1.5–6 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence densely 4–10-flowered; peduncle 1–1.5 mm. diameter, with 3 short sheaths in basal half; rhachis 2–8 cm. long; bracts spreading, lanceolate, acuminate, 10–25 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers not opening widely, spreading but becoming nutant, pink or whitish pink with a mauve mark on disc of lip; pedicel and ovary 9–11 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal oblong, acute or apiculate, 21–27 mm. long, 7 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but oblique at base, 19–25 mm. long, 5–9 mm. wide, keeled on outside.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate, 18–23 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip not recurved, 3-lobed, 16–24 mm. long, 10–19 mm. wide; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe much larger, transversely oblong to circular, obtuse; callus of 2 short papillate ridges to base of mid-lobe, sparsely long-papillose on mid-lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur cylindrical, incurved, 2–3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 4–5 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit pendent, ± 25 mm. long.
Figures
Pl. 4. Fig. 101/1, 2, p. 452.
Habitat
In deciduous woodland, on rocky outcrops and at edges of wet grassland; 1000–1650 m.
Distribution
T4 T7 T8
[FTEA]

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: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

General Description

Terrestrial herb 20–40 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 2–2.5 cm long, 1.6–2 cm in diameter, irregularly shaped, forming a chain; roots 1–2 mm in diameter.Leaves 1–3, 12–45 cm × 1.5–10 mm, linear, acuminate, ribbed, grass-like, absent or partly developed at flowering time.Inflorescence densely 4–12-flowered; scape with 3 short sheaths in the basal half.Pedicel and ovary c. 10 mm long; bracts spreading, 10–25 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.Flowers not opening wide, spreading at first and becoming nutant, lilac-pink or pale pink with a large purple blotch on the lip.Sepals 19–33 × 5–12 mm, oblong, acute or acuminate, the laterals oblique and slightly keeled on outside.Petals 17–25 × 5–9 mm, elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate.Lip 16–25 × 10–19 mm when flattened, 3-lobed; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe up to 15 mm wide, transversely oblong to orbicular, obtuse; callus of 2 papillate ridges from the base to the junction of the lobes, with sparse, long papillae on the mid-lobe.Spur 2–4 mm long, cylindrical, horizontal or incurved.Column 4–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.Capsule c. 25 mm long, pendent.

A terrestrial herb 20–40 cm. tall. Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, irregularly spherical, potato-like, 2–2.5 cm. long, 1.6–2 cm. diameter, in strings; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter. Leaves 1–2, erect, grass-like, linear, acuminate, 12–32 cm. long, 1.5–6 mm. wide. Inflorescence densely 4–10-flowered; peduncle 1–1.5 mm. diameter, with 3 short sheaths in basal half; rhachis 2–8 cm. long; bracts spreading, lanceolate, acuminate, 10–25 mm. long. Flowers not opening widely, spreading but becoming nutant, pink or whitish pink with a mauve mark on disc of lip; pedicel and ovary 9–11 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong, acute or apiculate, 21–27 mm. long, 7 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but oblique at base, 19–25 mm. long, 5–9 mm. wide, keeled on outside. Petals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate, 18–23 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide. Lip not recurved, 3-lobed, 16–24 mm. long, 10–19 mm. wide; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe much larger, transversely oblong to circular, obtuse; callus of 2 short papillate ridges to base of mid-lobe, sparsely long-papillose on mid-lobe; spur cylindrical, incurved, 2–3 mm. long. Column 4–5 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long. Fruit pendent, ± 25 mm. long. Pl. 4. Fig. 101/1, 2, p. 452.

A terrestrial herb 20–40 cm. tall. Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, irregularly spherical, potato-like, 2–2.5 cm. long, 1.6–2 cm. diameter, in strings; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter. Leaves 1–2, erect, grass-like, linear, acuminate, 12–32 cm. long, 1.5–6 mm. wide. Inflorescence densely 4–10-flowered; peduncle 1–1.5 mm. diameter, with 3 short sheaths in basal half; rhachis 2–8 cm. long; bracts spreading, lanceolate, acuminate, 10–25 mm. long. Flowers not opening widely, spreading but becoming nutant, pink or whitish pink with a mauve mark on disc of lip; pedicel and ovary 9–11 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oblong, acute or apiculate, 21–27 mm. long, 7 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but oblique at base, 19–25 mm. long, 5–9 mm. wide, keeled on outside. Petals elliptic or oblong-elliptic, obtuse or apiculate, 18–23 mm. long, 7–9 mm. wide. Lip not recurved, 3-lobed, 16–24 mm. long, 10–19 mm. wide; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe much larger, transversely oblong to circular, obtuse; callus of 2 short papillate ridges to base of mid-lobe, sparsely long-papillose on mid-lobe; spur cylindrical, incurved, 2–3 mm. long. Column 4–5 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long. Fruit pendent, ± 25 mm. long. Pl. 4. Fig. 101/1, 2, p. 452.

Habitat

In deciduous woodland, on rocky outcrops and at edges of wet grassland; 1000–1650 m.

Brachystegia woodland, and grassland on woodland margins

In deciduous woodland, on rocky outcrops and at edges of wet grassland; 1000–1650 m.

[E-EM]

General Description

Terrestrial herb to 150 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 4–6 × 2.5–4 cm, irregularly conical; roots 1.2–3 mm in diameter, white.Leaves 3–6, 15–65 × 0.6–3 cm, fleshy, not plicate, narrowly oblanceolate, absent or just starting to appear at flowering time.Inflorescence laxly many-flowered; scape stout, purplish, with several sheaths.Pedicel and ovary 12–23 mm long; bracts 4–14 mm long, lanceolate.Flowers variable in size; sepals green, sometimes tipped with brown, petals and lip bright yellow, the lip with red veins on the side lobes; column pale green.Sepals 5–11 × 2–5 mm, ovate or elliptic, apiculate, reflexed.Petals 11–20 × 8–22 mm, spreading, elliptic-ovate to suborbicular, obtuse.Lip 12–24 mm long, difficult to flatten, 3-lobed; side lobes erect, attached to column at base; mid-lobe 10–20 mm long, convex with a crest of 3 rugulose, fleshy ridges; spur conical, 1–4 mm long.Column 4–6 mm long.

Habitat

Grassland and wooded grassland with shrubs, miombo and mixed deciduous woodland, usually on sandy soils, also in brackish swampy coastal grassland

[E-EM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
  • Eulophiinae: e-monocot.org

    • All Rights Reserved
  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0
  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0