Orchidaceae
Eulophia

Eulophia petersii (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.

First published in Flora 48: 186 (1865)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Eritrea to S. Africa, Socotra, Arabian Peninsula. It is a pseudobulbous geophyte or lithophyte 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
Robust terrestrial herb.
Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs
Perennating organs pseudobulbous, mostly above ground, 4–23 × 1–4 cm, ovoid, conical or cylindrical, with 4–6 nodes, green at first, turning yellow and ribbed; roots stout, 4–5 mm in diameter.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 2–4, usually 2, erect, somewhat conduplicate, 14–95 × 1–6 cm, linear-ligulate, the edges serrate, succulent, drying ribbed.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence up to 3 m tall, usually with 3–7 branches; peduncle stout with 4 bracts.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 2–3 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts up to 18 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Sepals and petals green, veined with purple-red; lip white, marked with red.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 16–30 × 2–6 mm, oblanceolate, acuminate or apiculate, curled back at the tips, the dorsal erect, the laterals spreading.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 16–22 × 4–8 mm, oblanceolate or oblong, apiculate, curled back at the tips.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 14–27 × 8–17 mm across the side lobes when flattened, 3-lobed, side lobes erect, mid-lobe subquadrate, 4–10 mm long, 6–14 mm wide, with a callus of 3 fleshy, erose ridges.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur 4–6 mm long, subcylindrical, usually incurved.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column 8–9 mm long, lacking papillae; the foot 1–2 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule 4–5 cm long, pendent, ellipsoid.
[FZ]

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]

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Perennial herb up to 3 m tall; pseudobulbs large, ovoid to cylindric, 3–24 x 1.2–4 cm, 4–6-noded, green to yellow, 2–4-leaved towards apex; roots thick with white velamen
Morphology Leaves
Leaves stiff, erect or spreading, succulent-leathery, linear-ligulate, acute, 15–55 x 0.7–4.5 cm, with toothed margins
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence an up to 7-branched panicle, laxly many-flowered, erect to almost horizontal; peduncle up to 90 cm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers fleshy, fragrant; sepals and petals green with purple-brown stripes; lip whitish with purple markings
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 20–30 and petals 16–22 mm long; lip 3-lobed, 16–30 x 8–15 mm; all segments recurved and ± rolled at apex; spur 2–8 mm long, incurved; column 10–13 mm long.
Distribution
N1, 2; C1, 2; S1, 2 widespread in Africa from Ethiopia, Sudan and Dem. Rep. Congo to South Africa, Yemen, Oman, Saudi Arabia
Ecology
Altitude range 10–1600 m.
Vernacular
Dhegoweyn (Som.); hangey (Som.-N); schkul (Som.-S).
[FSOM]

General Description

Robust terrestrial herb.Perennating organs pseudobulbous, mostly above ground, 4–23 × 1–4 cm, ovoid, conical or cylindrical, with 4–6 nodes, green at first, turning yellow and ribbed; roots stout, 4–5 mm in diameter.Leaves 2–4, usually 2, erect, somewhat conduplicate, 14–95 × 1–6 cm, linear-ligulate, the edges serrate, succulent, drying ribbed.Inflorescence up to 3 m tall, usually with 3–7 branches; peduncle stout with 4 bracts.Pedicel and ovary 2–3 cm long; bracts up to 18 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.Sepals and petals green, veined with purple-red; lip white, marked with red.Sepals 16–30 × 2–6 mm, oblanceolate, acuminate or apiculate, curled back at the tips, the dorsal erect, the laterals spreading.Petals 16–22 × 4–8 mm, oblanceolate or oblong, apiculate, curled back at the tips.Lip 14–27 × 8–17 mm across the side lobes when flattened, 3-lobed, side lobes erect, mid-lobe subquadrate, 4–10 mm long, 6–14 mm wide, with a callus of 3 fleshy, erose ridges.Spur 4–6 mm long, subcylindrical, usually incurved.Column 8–9 mm long, lacking papillae; the foot 1–2 mm long.Capsule 4–5 cm long, pendent, ellipsoid.

A large terrestrial herb 100–350 cm. tall. Perennating organs pseudobulbous, conical, 6–23 cm. tall, 1.4–4 cm. diameter, 4–6-noded, green turning yellow, covered with 5 papery sheaths when young; roots stout, 5 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 2–3(–4), erect or suberect, fleshy-leathery, somewhat conduplicate, linear-ligulate, acute, 14–80 cm. long, 1.4–6 cm. wide, serrate on margins. Inflorescence 3–7-branched, laxly many-flowered; branches to 35 cm. long; peduncle stout, up to 90 cm. long, 1–1.4 cm. diameter, with 4 well-spaced bracts; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 5–16 mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide. Flowers fleshy; sepals olive-green flushed or striped maroon; lip white, veined red or purple; pedicel and ovary 20–26 mm. long. Dorsal sepal erect, oblanceolate, acuminate or apiculate, 17–23 mm. long, 4–5 mm. wide, recurved at apex; lateral sepals similar. Petals oblanceolate or oblong, shortly apiculate, recurved at apex, 16–18 mm. long, 5–7 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 14–20 mm. long, 8–15 mm. wide; side lobes elliptic; mid-lobe circular to subquadrate, emarginate or obtuse, 4 mm. long, 6 mm. wide; callus of 3 fleshy ridges, raised and erose on the mid-lobe; spur incurved, cylindric-subclavate, 4–6 mm. long. Column 8–9 mm. long; foot 1–2 mm. long. Fruit pendent, ellipsoidal, 40–46 mm. long. Fig. 97/1–12.

Habitat

By sea in sandy soil, in rocky places, in Acacia-Commiphora, Grewia and other thickets and bushland; sea-level to 1800 m.

At low altitudes in hot often low rainfall areas, on granite domes or rocky outcrops, often forming colonies, usually in shallow soil over rock, also in sandy soils in dry bush and woodland and on coral shores

[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
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • 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