Eulophia decaryana H.Perrier, Bull. Soc. Bot. France 82: 154 (1935).
Homotypic Names:
Lissochilus decaryanus (H.Perrier) H.Perrier, Fl. Madagasc. 49(2): 32 (1941).
Eulophidium decaryanum (H.Perrier) Summerh., Bull. Jard. Bot. État Bruxelles 27: 295 (1957).
Oeceoclades decaryana (H.Perrier) Garay & P.Taylor, Bot. Mus. Leafl. 24: 262 (1976).957).
Description:
Plants terrestrial, generally 60 cm tall, pseudobulbs pentagonal, thick (4 x 2.3 cm), mono or diphyllous. Leaves sessile, flat, widely linear (15-23 x 1-1.2 cm), shortly attenuate at both ends, acute, rigid, with the median vein projecting below; articulation very visible, limbus when live maculate with whitish and dark green. Inflorescence upright; peduncle much longer than the raceme, heating 3, scarious, reddish sheaths, slightly acute and several veined, inflorescence simple, loosely 12-18 flowered; bracts lanceolate, flat-ascending, 3 veined, the lower ones 7 mm long, the upper ones 3 mm long; flowers average in size, of a greenish-yellow, the petals and labellum with reddish-brown veins. Median sepal oblanceolate, 2 cm long, the laterals of the same length but sickle shaped. Petals oblong (11 x 5 mm), slightly attenuate to the apex from the very obtuse base, 3 veined, the laterals visibly branched. Labellum narrowed basally, widely obovate, 4-lobed, generally 1.6 cm long and wide; inferior lobes sub keeled, long and wide (5.5 mm), 5 veined, veins visible; frontal lobes orbicular (8 mm in diameter), with the veins arranged in a fan but only slightly distinct, provided basally with 2 calluses and toward the center with 3 papillous keels which are slightly diverging; spur short (4 mm), obtuse, cylindrical, porrect in front. Column 5 mm tall, finely keeled on the back surface, widely canaliculate on the lower surface and elongated by a column foot; clinandrium small, with the back edge enlarged in a small lobule bearing the anther; rostellum very deeply notched medially, the auricles slightly projecting. Anther 2 mm wide, thick and crenulate behind, provided apically with 2 obsolete gibbousite, without any projections on the front; pollina widely oval; retinacle thick, slightly wider apically, elongated on the sides of the stigma. Pedicel glabrous, 2 cm long.
Habitat:
In rocky areas in riverine forest and under shrubs on rocky outcrops up to 900 m.
Flowering time:
Nov - Jan.
Cultivation:
Cultivate in shady conditions, usually around 800-1000 foot candles with good air movement. Warm temperatures are preferred
Distribution:
Kenya to NE. KwaZulu-Natal, Madagascar
References:
Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/1983; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 3 Cribb 1989; Orchids of Kenya Stewart & Campbell 1996; African Orchids in the Wild and Cultivation La Croix 1997; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Orchidaceae Part 2 Pope 1998; Orchids of Southern Africa Linder & Kurzweil 1999; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans, Du Puy, Cribb & Bosser 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Hermans 2009; Terrestrial African Orchids, A select Review John S. Ball 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): 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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Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Warren McCleland. Image used with kind permission.