Eulophia beravensis Rchb.f., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin) 39: 449 (1881).
Homotypic Names:
Graphorkis beravensis (Rchb.f.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 662 (1891).
Lissochilus beravensis (Rchb.f.) H.Perrier, Fl. Madagasc. 49(2): 42 (1941).
Oeceoclades beravensis (Rchb.f.) R.Bone & Buerki, Candollea 69: 202 (2014).
Description:
Plants always found in dense clumps, roots white fusiform and thick pseudobulbs numerous closely set, cauliform very long (15-50 cm) bearing many sheaths and 3 4 leaves apically obviously articulate apically to the sheath. Leaves narrowly linear (20- 30 cm x 4-10 mm) rigid slightly attenuate lengthwise with the median vein slightly projecting below. Inflorescence paniculate, longer than the leaves or at least equal to them peduncle 30-50 cm long sheaths appressed whitish not ordinarily more than half the length of the internode bracts very small (1 mm) 8-10 times shorter than the pedicel, pedicel 12- 17 mm long flowers long (about 8- 10 mm) with the sepals and petals reddish brown and the labellum grayish-white, veined with violet and tinted violet basally. Median sepal and petals narrowly lanceolate (7-10 x 1.5- 2 mm) the median sepal acute the petals obtuse and 3 veined Lateral sepals slightly shorter (6-8 mm (and slightly wider (1.8-2.5 mm) than the median sepal, acute and sickle shaped. Labellum rolled horn like, much wider than long when flattened out (7 x 10 mm), deeply notched medially, bilobed, the lateral lobes diverging and rounded, provided basally. in front of the spur oriface with 2 projecting calluses and with 5-6 colored veins in each lobe, bifurcating apically; spur short (3-4.5 mm) and obtuse. Column 4- 4.5 mm long, elliptical, stigma large, rear margins of the clinandrium deltoid-obtuse. Anther slightly excised in front, provided behind with a very thick, obscurely didymous and very obtuse appendage; pollina embracing; retinacle thick, notched in an arch with the extremities joined to the margins of the stigma.
Habitat:
Oeceoclades beravensis has a broad distribution in the sub-humid to sub-arid areas of Madagascar to the west and south, where it grows in sandy soils, often forming dense stands in the understorey of western dry forest and wooded grassland-bushland mosaic (sensu Moat & Smith,2007)
Phenology:
Flowering in from June-November.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
W. Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar: vascular plants: 49th family, Orchids / by H. Perrier de La Bathie; published under the auspices of the government of Madagascar and under the direction of H. Humbert; English revision and translation by Steven D. Beckman Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; Expansion of the orchid genus Eulophia (Eulophiinae; Epidendroideae) to include Acrolophia, Cymbidiella, Eulophiella, Geodorum, Oeceoclades and Paralophia by Mark W. Chase, André Schuiteman & Pankaj Kumar. Phytotaxa 491 (1): Phytotaxa 491 (1). POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved 24 November 2022."
Images:
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