Eulophia latilabris Summerh.

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

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

Morphology General Habit

A large terrestrial herb 75–120 cm. tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Perennating organs underground, obliquely conical, 3–4 cm. tall, 2–3 cm. diameter, borne on a horizontal fleshy rhizome 1–1.5 cm. in diameter; roots 3.5 mm. diameter, white.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–5, erect, lanceolate, acuminate, 30–70 cm. long, 3.8–8 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence produced before the leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle stout, 1–1.8 cm. diameter at base, bearing 4–5 loose obtuse sheaths along length; rhachis 11–21 cm. long; bracts elliptic, acute or acuminate, 30–55 mm. long, 16–40 mm. wide, yellowish to greenish purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large, fleshy, subnutant; sepals greenish purple; petals pinkish mauve; lip pale pinkish mauve with dark purple-veined side lobes and a bright yellow callus; pedicel and ovary 25–30 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal reflexed, obovate, apiculate, 20–23 mm. long, 8–10 mm. wide; lateral sepal similar but oblique at base, 21–27 mm. long, 11–15 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals porrect, almost circular, 24–27 mm. long, 28–30 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 27–35 mm. long, 30–32 mm. wide; side lobes broadly rounded; mid-lobe transversely oblong to semicircular, 12 mm. long, 19 mm. wide; callus of 5 ridges, the 3 inner ones raised at base, undulate and lower towards apex.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur obliquely narrowly conical, pointing backwards, 5–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 12–14 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pendent, ellipsoidal, 35 mm. long.

Figures

Pl. 2. Fig. 92/11–18.

Habitat

In marshes, bogs and seasonally wet grassland; 1300–1600 m.

Distribution

West Africa across to the Sudan, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana K5 T4 T8 U1 U2 U3

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

Morphology General Habit

Large terrestrial herb.

Morphology Roots

Perennating organs subterranean, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, obliquely conical; roots 3–4 mm in diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 2–5, 30–70 × 3–8 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, petiolate, ribbed, not fully developed by flowering time.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence to 120 cm high, densely several- to many-flowered; scape stout, 10–18 mm in diameter, with 4–5 loose sheaths along its length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 25–35 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 30–55 × 15–40 mm, elliptic, acute, in opposite pairs, each enclosing 1–2 flowers.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers subnutant; sepals greenish-purple or brownish, glossy; petals bright mauve-pink, lip paler mauve-pink with white or yellow lamellae.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals reflexed, 20–27 × 12–15 mm, obovate, apiculate, the laterals slightly larger than the dorsal and oblique.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 22–28 × 25–30 mm, porrect, ± orbicular.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 27–35 × 30–32 mm, obscurely 3-lobed, with a callus of 5 ridges becoming lower and undulate towards the apex; mid-lobe 12 × 12–19 mm, transversely oblong, side lobes rounded; spur 5–10 mm long, conical, pointing backwards.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 12–14 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule pendent, c. 35 mm long.

Habitat

In marshes, bogs and seasonally wet grassland; 1300–1600 m.

Perennially swampy grassland, in tall grasses at swamp and wet dambo margins, and in swampy ground beside rivers

General Description

Large terrestrial herb.Perennating organs subterranean, 3–4 × 2–3 cm, obliquely conical; roots 3–4 mm in diameter.Leaves 2–5, 30–70 × 3–8 cm, lanceolate, acuminate, petiolate, ribbed, not fully developed by flowering time.Inflorescence to 120 cm high, densely several- to many-flowered; scape stout, 10–18 mm in diameter, with 4–5 loose sheaths along its length.Pedicel and ovary 25–35 mm long; bracts 30–55 × 15–40 mm, elliptic, acute, in opposite pairs, each enclosing 1–2 flowers.Flowers subnutant; sepals greenish-purple or brownish, glossy; petals bright mauve-pink, lip paler mauve-pink with white or yellow lamellae.Sepals reflexed, 20–27 × 12–15 mm, obovate, apiculate, the laterals slightly larger than the dorsal and oblique.Petals 22–28 × 25–30 mm, porrect, ± orbicular.Lip 27–35 × 30–32 mm, obscurely 3-lobed, with a callus of 5 ridges becoming lower and undulate towards the apex; mid-lobe 12 × 12–19 mm, transversely oblong, side lobes rounded; spur 5–10 mm long, conical, pointing backwards.Column 12–14 mm long.Capsule pendent, c. 35 mm long.

A large terrestrial herb 75–120 cm. tall. Perennating organs underground, obliquely conical, 3–4 cm. tall, 2–3 cm. diameter, borne on a horizontal fleshy rhizome 1–1.5 cm. in diameter; roots 3.5 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 3–5, erect, lanceolate, acuminate, 30–70 cm. long, 3.8–8 cm. wide. Inflorescence produced before the leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle stout, 1–1.8 cm. diameter at base, bearing 4–5 loose obtuse sheaths along length; rhachis 11–21 cm. long; bracts elliptic, acute or acuminate, 30–55 mm. long, 16–40 mm. wide, yellowish to greenish purple. Flowers large, fleshy, subnutant; sepals greenish purple; petals pinkish mauve; lip pale pinkish mauve with dark purple-veined side lobes and a bright yellow callus; pedicel and ovary 25–30 mm. long. Dorsal sepal reflexed, obovate, apiculate, 20–23 mm. long, 8–10 mm. wide; lateral sepal similar but oblique at base, 21–27 mm. long, 11–15 mm. wide. Petals porrect, almost circular, 24–27 mm. long, 28–30 mm. wide. Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 27–35 mm. long, 30–32 mm. wide; side lobes broadly rounded; mid-lobe transversely oblong to semicircular, 12 mm. long, 19 mm. wide; callus of 5 ridges, the 3 inner ones raised at base, undulate and lower towards apex; spur obliquely narrowly conical, pointing backwards, 5–8 mm. long. Column 12–14 mm. long. Fruit pendent, ellipsoidal, 35 mm. long. PI. 2. Fig. 92/11–18.