Eulophia clitellifera (Rchb.f.) Bolus, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 25: 184 (1889).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Lissochilus clitellifer Rchb.f., Linnaea 20: 687 (1847).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Lissochilus pulchellus Rendle, J. Bot. 33: 196 (1895).
Lissochilus rehmannii Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 55 (1912).
Lissochilus flexuosus Schltr. in R.E.Fries, Wiss. Erg. Schwed. Rhod.-Kongo Exped. 1: 245 (1916).
Eulophia fractiflexa Summerh., Kew Bull. 8: 156 (1953).
Description:
Terrestrial herb 17–60 cm tall. Perennating organs subterranean, pseudobulbous, 2–3 × 2–2.5 cm, asymmetrically conical, forming chains; roots white, 2–4 mm in diameter. Leaves about 5, forming a fan, the lowest 2–3 sheath-like, 10–70 × 0.7–2 cm, linear-lanceolate, falcate in side view, not plicate, absent or just starting to develop at flowering time. Inflorescence rather laxly few- to many-flowered; peduncle with 2–3 sheathing bracts; rhachis slightly zigzag. Pedicel and ovary 13–20 mm long; bracts 4–11 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate. epals olive-brown; petals and lip dull pink, yellow or whitish, the lip with yellow ridges. Sepals 6.5–9.5 × 2.3–4.2 mm, oblong-elliptic, the laterals slightly larger than the dorsal. Petals 8–10.6 × 3–7.8 mm, ovate-elliptic to suborbicular, concave. Lip 7–10 mm long, 3-lobed; side lobes erect, rounded or truncate, attached to the base of the column; mid-lobe 4.5–7 × 3–5.5 mm, suborbicular or elliptic, obtuse or emarginate, with a callus of 3–5 fleshy, verrucose ridges; spur 3–5 mm long, conical. Column 1–3 mm long, lacking a foot.
Habitat:
Dambo, plateau and coastal grasslands, usually on sandy soil, usually after fire, also in dry miombo and mixed deciduous woodlands including Combretum bush 0–1900 m.
Notes:
This species resembles Eulophia arenicola Schltr. but is a larger, more robust plant with a longer pedicel and ovary.
Distribution:
Trop. & S. Africa, Madagascar
References:
Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae (Part 3); Genera Orchidacearum Volume 5 Epidendrodeae Part 2 Pridgeon, Cribb, Chase and Rasmussen 2009; Terrestrial African Orchids, A select Review John S. Ball 2009; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11, Part 2, (1998) Author: I. la Croix & P.J. Cribb; New Orchids: Decade XLVII Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew), Vol. 1920, No. 4 (1920), pp. 128-132; African Orchids: XXI V. S. Summerhayes, Kew Bulletin, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1953), pp. 129-162; ; POWO (2022). "Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet; http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ Retrieved 26 November 2022."
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.on.
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission. |
