Orchidaceae
Eulophia

Eulophia tenella Rchb.f.

First published in Linnaea 20: 681 (1847)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical & S. Africa. It is a pseudobulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Slender terrestrial herb.
Vegetative Multiplication Tubers
Perennating organs subterranean, tuber-like, forming chains.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves 13–21 cm × 1–4 mm, narrowly linear, developed at flowering time.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Flowering stem 18–30 cm, rather densely few- to several-flowered; scape with about 3 bracts c. 3 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary
Pedicel and ovary 7 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts 7–10 mm, lanceolate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Sepals green, spotted with brown and dull purple; petals pale yellow outside, blotched with purple inside; lip yellowish-brown.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 6.6–6.8 × 2–2.3 mm, oblong, apiculate, the laterals oblique.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals c. 6.2 × 3.8 mm, ovate-oblong, apiculate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip c. 6.3 × 4.3 mm, with fleshy lamellae on the 3 central nerves, 3-lobed; mid-lobe c. 3 × 2.6 mm, truncate or emarginate; side lobes ± oblong; spur 2–3.5 mm, conical or cylindrical, blunt.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column
Column stout, 3–5 mm long.
[FZ]

General Description

Slender terrestrial herb.Perennating organs subterranean, tuber-like, forming chains.Leaves 13–21 cm × 1–4 mm, narrowly linear, developed at flowering time.Flowering stem 18–30 cm, rather densely few- to several-flowered; scape with about 3 bracts c. 3 cm long.Pedicel and ovary 7 mm long; bracts 7–10 mm, lanceolate, acuminate.Sepals green, spotted with brown and dull purple; petals pale yellow outside, blotched with purple inside; lip yellowish-brown.Sepals 6.6–6.8 × 2–2.3 mm, oblong, apiculate, the laterals oblique.Petals c. 6.2 × 3.8 mm, ovate-oblong, apiculate.Lip c. 6.3 × 4.3 mm, with fleshy lamellae on the 3 central nerves, 3-lobed; mid-lobe c. 3 × 2.6 mm, truncate or emarginate; side lobes ± oblong; spur 2–3.5 mm, conical or cylindrical, blunt.Column stout, 3–5 mm long.

Habitat

Open submontane grassland, vlei

[E-EM]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Eulophiinae: e-monocot.org

    • All Rights Reserved

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2024. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Science Photographs

    • Copyright applied to individual images