Eulophia stachyodes Rchb.f.

General Description

Terrestrial herb 30–80 cm tall.Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 3–4.6 × 1 cm, ellipsoidal or cylindric; roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter, emerging all over tuber, white.Leaves 4–5, suberect, long-petiolate, the basal 1–2 sheathing, 17–100 × 3–8.5 cm, lanceolate or oblanceolate, acuminate, plicate, well developed at flowering time.Inflorescence rather densely many-flowered; scape 3–5 mm in diameter; rhachis 6–26 cm long.Pedicel and ovary 15–16 mm long; bracts 10–55 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate.Flowers spreading; sepals dull greenish, bronze or greenish-red; petals white, lip green with a purple callus; spur green flushed with purple.Sepals 14–23 × 2.5–7 mm, narrowly oblong, obtuse to acute.Petals 13–18 × 6.5–10 mm, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, projecting over column.Lip 3-lobed, 12–17 × 9–16 mm; side-lobes broadly oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe oblong, obtuse, 6 × 4.5 mm, undulate on margin; callus of 3 ridges with 3–5 rows of short papillae on mid-lobe; spur incurved, conical-cylindrical, 4 mm long.Column 6.5–7 mm long.Fruit pendent, 20–25 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 30–80 cm. tall. Perennating organs underground, tuberous, ellipsoidal or cylindric, 3–4.6 cm. long, 1 cm. diameter; roots 1.5–2 mm. diameter, emerging all over tuber, white. Leaves 4–5, suberect, plicate, lanceolate or oblanceolate, acuminate, 17–100 cm. long, 3–8.5 cm. wide, long-petiolate, basal 1–2 sheathing. Inflorescence produced with the leaves, densely many-flowered; peduncle 3–5 mm. diameter; rhachis 6–26 cm. long; bracts linear-lanceolate, acuminate, 10–55 mm. long. Flowers spreading; sepals dull greenish, bronze or greenish red; petals white, lip green with a purple callus; spur green flushed with purple; pedicel and ovary 15–16 mm. long. Dorsal sepal narrowly oblong, obtuse to acute, 18–23 mm. long, 2.5–4.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar. Petals elliptic-oblong, obtuse, 16–18 mm. long, 6.5–8 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 14–15 mm. long, 9 mm. wide; side lobes broadly oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe oblong, obtuse, 6 mm. long, 4.5 mm. wide, undulate on margin; callus of 3 ridges with 3–5 rows of short papillae on mid-lobe; spur incurved, conical-cylindrical, 4 mm. long. Column 6.5–7 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 20–25 mm. long. Pl. 3. Fig. 99/1–9.

Habitat

In grassland, bushland and woodland; 950–2100 m.

Dambo and open grassland, and margins of riverine forest

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 30–80 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Perennating organs subterranean, tuberous, 3–4.6 × 1 cm, ellipsoidal or cylindric; roots 1.5–2 mm in diameter, emerging all over tuber, white.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–5, suberect, long-petiolate, the basal 1–2 sheathing, 17–100 × 3–8.5 cm, lanceolate or oblanceolate, acuminate, plicate, well developed at flowering time.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence rather densely many-flowered; scape 3–5 mm in diameter; rhachis 6–26 cm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 15–16 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 10–55 mm long, linear-lanceolate, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading; sepals dull greenish, bronze or greenish-red; petals white, lip green with a purple callus; spur green flushed with purple.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 14–23 × 2.5–7 mm, narrowly oblong, obtuse to acute.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 13–18 × 6.5–10 mm, elliptic-oblong, obtuse, projecting over column.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 3-lobed, 12–17 × 9–16 mm; side-lobes broadly oblong, rounded in front; mid-lobe oblong, obtuse, 6 × 4.5 mm, undulate on margin; callus of 3 ridges with 3–5 rows of short papillae on mid-lobe; spur incurved, conical-cylindrical, 4 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 6.5–7 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pendent, 20–25 mm long.

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

Morphology General Habit

Herb to 21/2 ft. high

Morphology Leaves

Broad leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

A rather close spike of brown white flowers.