Eulophia malangana (Rchb.f.) Summerh.

Habitat

In seasonally wet grassland and swamps; 1850–2100 m.

Seasonally wet or waterlogged grassland, in dambos and damp peaty soil on lake margins

General Description

Terrestrial herb 60–100 cm tall.Perennating organ subterranean, an elongated rhizome 6–9 mm in diameter.Roots c. 3 mm in diameter.Leaves 2–6, 27–52 cm × 4–14 mm, erect, linear, acuminate, the lowest sheathing, absent or just starting to develop at flowering time.Inflorescence laxly or densely several- to many-flowered; scape with 3–4 sheaths spread along its length.Pedicel and ovary 10–20 mm long; bracts 6–10 mm long, lanceolate, acute.Flowers white, the sepals green towards the apex, the lip sometimes lilac-flushed towards the base.Sepals 10–13 × 4.5–9.5 mm, erect, spathulate, the apex rounded.Petals 9–13 × 8–11 mm, elliptic-circular, rounded or apiculate, lying over column.Lip 13–21.5 × 8–12 mm, with a callus of 5 low keels in the centre, obscurely 3-lobed; side lobes narrowly oblong, mid-lobe 9.5–12.5 mm long, suborbicular, the edges undulate; spur 2–6.5 mm, conical, blunt, recurved.Column 5–7 mm long.Capsule pendent, 20–23 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 60–100 cm. tall. Perennating organ underground, rhizomatous, 6 or more cm. long, 6–9 mm. diameter; roots 3.5 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 3–6, linear, erect, acuminate, 30–46 cm. long, 4–14 mm. wide, lowermost sheathing. Inflorescence laxly to densely many-flowered, produced before the leaves; peduncle 4 mm. diameter, bearing 3–4 well-spaced sheaths along length; rhachis 6–15 cm. long; bracts elliptic to lanceolate, acute, 6–10 mm. long. Flowers large, spreading; sepals white with greenish brown tips; petals and lip white, lip flushed with lilac in basal half; pedicel and ovary 10–20 mm. long. Dorsal sepal erect, spathulate, rounded at apex, 10–13 mm. long, 6–8.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, 12–13 mm. long, 6–9.5 mm. wide. Petals porrect over column, elliptic-circular, rounded or shortly apiculate, 9–13 mm. long, 8–11 mm. wide, slightly concave. Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 14–21.5 mm. long, 8–12 mm. wide; side lobes narrowly oblong; mid-lobe large, oblong-subcircular, rounded in front, with undulate margins; callus obscure, with 5 central veins somewhat thickened; spur conical, recurved, 2–4 mm. long. Column 5–6 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 20–23 mm. long. Pl. 3.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 60–100 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Perennating organ subterranean, an elongated rhizome 6–9 mm in diameter.

Morphology Roots

Roots c. 3 mm in diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 2–6, 27–52 cm × 4–14 mm, erect, linear, acuminate, the lowest sheathing, absent or just starting to develop at flowering time.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence laxly or densely several- to many-flowered; scape with 3–4 sheaths spread along its length.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 10–20 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 6–10 mm long, lanceolate, acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers white, the sepals green towards the apex, the lip sometimes lilac-flushed towards the base.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 10–13 × 4.5–9.5 mm, erect, spathulate, the apex rounded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 9–13 × 8–11 mm, elliptic-circular, rounded or apiculate, lying over column.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 13–21.5 × 8–12 mm, with a callus of 5 low keels in the centre, obscurely 3-lobed; side lobes narrowly oblong, mid-lobe 9.5–12.5 mm long, suborbicular, the edges undulate; spur 2–6.5 mm, conical, blunt, recurved.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 5–7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule pendent, 20–23 mm long.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 60–100 cm. tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Rhizomes

Perennating organ underground, rhizomatous, 6 or more cm. long, 6–9 mm. diameter; roots 3.5 mm. diameter, white.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 3–6, linear, erect, acuminate, 30–46 cm. long, 4–14 mm. wide, lowermost sheathing.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence laxly to densely many-flowered, produced before the leaves; peduncle 4 mm. diameter, bearing 3–4 well-spaced sheaths along length; rhachis 6–15 cm. long; bracts elliptic to lanceolate, acute, 6–10 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers large, spreading; sepals white with greenish brown tips; petals and lip white, lip flushed with lilac in basal half; pedicel and ovary 10–20 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal erect, spathulate, rounded at apex, 10–13 mm. long, 6–8.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar, 12–13 mm. long, 6–9.5 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals porrect over column, elliptic-circular, rounded or shortly apiculate, 9–13 mm. long, 8–11 mm. wide, slightly concave.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip obscurely 3-lobed, 14–21.5 mm. long, 8–12 mm. wide; side lobes narrowly oblong; mid-lobe large, oblong-subcircular, rounded in front, with undulate margins; callus obscure, with 5 central veins somewhat thickened.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur conical, recurved, 2–4 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 5–6 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pendent, 20–23 mm. long.

Figures

Pl. 3.

Habitat

In seasonally wet grassland and swamps; 1850–2100 m.

Distribution

T7