Eulophia streptopetala Lindl.

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

Morphology General Habit

A terrestrial herb 50–150 cm. tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Perennating organs pseudobulbous, clustered, conical to cylindric-fusiform, 2.5–10 cm. tall, 1.7–2.5 cm. diameter, covered in first year by leaf-bases; roots 4–6 mm. diameter, white.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–9, plicate, in a fan, suberect, lanceolate, acuminate, 40–65 cm. long, 0.4–8 cm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence laxly many-flowered; peduncle 9 mm. diameter, with 5–11 sheaths along length; rhachis 15–35 cm. long; bracts lanceolate or ovate, acuminate, 7–20 mm. long, 5–8 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading; sepals green or dull yellow veined and mottled with brown; petals yellow; lip darker yellow with reddish purple side lobes and a pale purple spur; column white; pedicel and ovary 15–22 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Dorsal sepal oblanceolate to elliptic, acute or obtuse, 8–18 mm. long, 3–9.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but longer.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals elliptic, circular or obovate, obtuse, 8–21 mm. long, 6–17 mm. wide.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip difficult to flatten, 3-lobed, 8–12 mm. long, 7.5–11 mm. wide; side lobes erect, rounded; mid-lobe conduplicate, obovate or elliptic, 7.5–12 mm. long; callus of 3–5 low fleshy rugulose ridges on mid-lobe.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur

Spur conical, tapering to apex, 2–3.5 mm. long, pointing backwards.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 5–8 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pendent, oblong-ellipsoidal, 35–50 mm. long.

Figures

Pl. 3.

General Description

Robust terrestrial herb 50–150 cm tall.Perennating organs pseudobulbous, mostly above ground, 2.5–10 cm tall, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, conical to cylindrical, ribbed, clustered.Roots 4–6 mm in diameter, fleshy, white.Leaves several, forming a fan, blade 40–65 × 0.5–8 cm, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, plicate.Inflorescences rather laxly many-flowered; scape stout with several sheaths along its length.Pedicel and ovary 15–25 mm long, arched so that the flowers face down; bracts 7–20 mm long, lanceolate or ovate, acute or acuminate.Sepals green or yellow-green blotched with brownish-purple, particularly inside; petals bright yellow outside, creamy-yellow inside; lip yellow, the side lobes purple, spur purple-red.Sepals (8)15–18 × (3)6–10 mm, oblanceolate or obovate, apiculate, the laterals slightly longer than the dorsal.Petals (8)13–21 × (8)12.5–20 mm, orbicular or ovate, lying parallel to the column.Lip (8)15–20 mm long, 3-lobed; side lobes 6.5–7 × 4.5–6.5 mm, erect, quite free from the column; mid-lobe 7.5–12 × 7.5–11 mm, the margins folded down, with a crest of 3–5 fleshy ridges down the centre; spur 2–4 mm long, conical, pointing backwards.Column 5–9 mm long, with a foot about 6 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 50–150 cm. tall. Perennating organs pseudobulbous, clustered, conical to cylindric-fusiform, 2.5–10 cm. tall, 1.7–2.5 cm. diameter, covered in first year by leaf-bases; roots 4–6 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 4–9, plicate, in a fan, suberect, lanceolate, acuminate, 40–65 cm. long, 0.4–8 cm. wide. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered; peduncle 9 mm. diameter, with 5–11 sheaths along length; rhachis 15–35 cm. long; bracts lanceolate or ovate, acuminate, 7–20 mm. long, 5–8 mm. wide. Flowers spreading; sepals green or dull yellow veined and mottled with brown; petals yellow; lip darker yellow with reddish purple side lobes and a pale purple spur; column white; pedicel and ovary 15–22 mm. long. Dorsal sepal oblanceolate to elliptic, acute or obtuse, 8–18 mm. long, 3–9.5 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar but longer. Petals elliptic, circular or obovate, obtuse, 8–21 mm. long, 6–17 mm. wide. Lip difficult to flatten, 3-lobed, 8–12 mm. long, 7.5–11 mm. wide; side lobes erect, rounded; mid-lobe conduplicate, obovate or elliptic, 7.5–12 mm. long; callus of 3–5 low fleshy rugulose ridges on mid-lobe; spur conical, tapering to apex, 2–3.5 mm. long, pointing backwards. Column 5–8 mm. long. Fruit pendent, oblong-ellipsoidal, 35–50 mm. long. Pl. 3.

Habitat

Submontane and dambo grasslands, mixed deciduous woodlands and forest margins, often on rocky outcrops, sometimes on termite mounds