Eulophia sabulosa Schltr.

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

Morphology General Habit

Slender terrestrial herb 35–70 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Perennating organs pseudobulbous, subterranean, 1.7–3.5 × 1.5–2.3 cm, conical, forming chains.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 7–8, forming a fan, 4–21 cm × 3–11 mm, the basal 3 sheathing.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences 1–2, laxly few- to many-flowered; scape slender; rhachis 10–35 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 12–18 mm long, standing out horizontally from the rhachis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 4–10 mm long, linear, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth

Sepals green, yellow-green or brownish; petals white or green with a white apex; lip white, the mid-lobe red-purple, with white papillae, the side lobes striped red-purple; column white, tipped purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals erect, 12–20 × 1–2 mm, linear-oblong, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 8–12 × 2–3 mm, oblong to narrowly elliptic, acute or apiculate, recurved at the tips, lying over the column.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 8–11 × 6–7.5 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe ovate, acute, recurved, more than half of the total length of the lip; callus of 2 basal ridges and several lines of long papillae on the mid-lobe; spur 4–5 mm long, cylindrical, slightly sigmoid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 4–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule pendent, ± 20 mm long.

Habitat

In Brachystegia-Uapaca woodland in sandy soil; 250–1350 m.

Miombo woodlands, often in rocky places

General Description

Slender terrestrial herb 35–70 cm tall.Perennating organs pseudobulbous, subterranean, 1.7–3.5 × 1.5–2.3 cm, conical, forming chains.Leaves 7–8, forming a fan, 4–21 cm × 3–11 mm, the basal 3 sheathing.Inflorescences 1–2, laxly few- to many-flowered; scape slender; rhachis 10–35 cm long.Pedicel and ovary 12–18 mm long, standing out horizontally from the rhachis; bracts 4–10 mm long, linear, acuminate.Sepals green, yellow-green or brownish; petals white or green with a white apex; lip white, the mid-lobe red-purple, with white papillae, the side lobes striped red-purple; column white, tipped purple.Sepals erect, 12–20 × 1–2 mm, linear-oblong, acuminate.Petals 8–12 × 2–3 mm, oblong to narrowly elliptic, acute or apiculate, recurved at the tips, lying over the column.Lip 8–11 × 6–7.5 mm, 3-lobed; side lobes oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe ovate, acute, recurved, more than half of the total length of the lip; callus of 2 basal ridges and several lines of long papillae on the mid-lobe; spur 4–5 mm long, cylindrical, slightly sigmoid.Column 4–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.Capsule pendent, ± 20 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 35–70 cm. tall. Perennating organs pseudobulbous, approximate, conical, in chains, 1.7–3.5 cm. tall, 1.5–2.3 cm. diameter; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter. Leaves 7–8, in a fan, linear, acute or acuminate, 4–21 cm. long, 3–11 mm. wide, basal 3 sheathing. Inflorescences 1–2, laxly few–many-flowered; peduncle slender, 1–2 mm. diameter; rhachis 10–29 cm. long; bracts linear, acuminate, 4–10 mm. long. Flowers with green or brownish green sepals; petals green at base, white at apex; lip white with a purple mid-lobe, cream callus and purple-striped side lobes; pedicel and ovary 12–18 mm. long. Dorsal sepal fleshy, erect, linear-oblong, acuminate, 12–18 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar. Petals porrect, oblong-narrowly elliptic, acute or apiculate, 8–12 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide, recurved at tip. Lip 3-lobed, 8–11 mm. long, 6–7.5 mm. wide; side lobes oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe ovate, acute, recurved; callus of 2 ridges with several lines of long papillae in front on mid-lobe; spur cylindric, slightly sigmoid, 4–5 mm. long. Column 4–5 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long. Fruit pendent, ± 20 mm. long. Fig. 105/1–9, p. 466.

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: low confidence