Orchidaceae
Eulophia

Eulophia mechowii (Rchb.f.) T.Durand & Schinz

First published in Consp. Fl. Afric. 5: 23 (1894)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Nigeria to W. Ethiopia and S. Africa. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

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]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit
A herb up to 21/2 ft. high
Morphology Leaves
Broad leaves
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
A short dense spike of yellow flowers which often have a deep orange, brown or plum-coloured centre.
[FWTA]

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

Morphology General Habit
A terrestrial herb 40–70 cm. tall.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Perennating organs underground, tuberous, proximate, potato-like, fusiform-oblong, 5–10 cm. long, 2–2.5 cm. diameter, 4–5 mm. apart on a 4–5 mm. diameter rhizome; roots dense at ends of tubers, 1.5 mm. diameter, white.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves, 2–3, erect, lanceolate, acute, 30–50 cm. long, 1.3–4 cm. wide, subtended by 2 basal sheaths.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence produced before or with young leaves, apparently subumbellate, densely many-flowered 6–10 cm. across; peduncle stout, covered by 3–4 slightly inflated sheaths; rhachis 2–5 cm. long; bracts suberect to reflexed, subulate, acuminate, 25–40 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers lemon yellow with a yellow, maroon or rich brown mark on the lip; pedicel and ovary 14–19 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, 28–36 mm. long, 12–16 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but larger, to 40 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, 28–32 mm. long, 12–14 mm. wide.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 3-lobed, 23–26 mm. long, 12–20 mm. wide; side lobes small, rounded in front; mid-lobe subcircular, obtuse to emarginate; callus of 2 ridges with long papillae in front on basal half of mid-lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur conical, 2–4 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 6–7 mm. long; foot 3 mm. long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit pendent, 18 mm. long.
Figures
Pl. 4.
Habitat
In grassland and wooded grassland; 1000–2100 m.
Distribution
K3 K5 K7 T1 T2 T3 T4 T6 T7 T8 U1 U2
[FTEA]

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

Morphology General Habit
Robust terrestrial herb 30–70 cm tall.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 5–10 × 2–2.5 cm, potato-like, forming a long chain; roots 1.5 mm in diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 2–3, 30–80 × 1.5–5 cm, lanceolate, acute, ribbed, absent or just starting to develop at flowering time.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence short and dense, almost capitate, many-flowered; scape stout, with several loose, papery sheaths up to 10 cm long, sometimes overlapping.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 10–20 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 20–50 mm long, lanceolate, long acuminate, spreading or reflexed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers lemon-yellow with a deep purple, orange or brown blotch on the mid-lobe of the lip, side lobes purplish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 28–40 × 10–16 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate, the laterals very slightly longer than the dorsal.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals slightly shorter than the sepals, 28–35 × 10–14 mm, elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 23–30 × 12–22 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes small, rounded; mid-lobe c. 15 × 15 mm, suborbicular, obtuse or emarginate; callus of 2 basal ridges turning to long papillae on the basal half of the mid-lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur 2–5 mm long, straight, conical to cylindrical.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 6–7 mm long; foot 3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule pendent, c. 20 mm long.
[FZ]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • 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

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical 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 2024. 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 2024. 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