Eulophia speciosa is a species of terrestrial orchid found from Ethiopia to South Africa and in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The plants usually grow in grasslands in sandy soils or in clay.[1]
| Eulophia speciosa | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Eulophia |
| Species: | E. speciosa
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| Binomial name | |
| Eulophia speciosa | |
| Synonyms | |
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See text | |
Description
editThe fleshy, lanceolate leaves arise from underground corms/pseudobulbs.[1] The leafless flowering shoot is about 0.4-0.8 m (up to 1.2m[2]) tall, with up to 30 comparatively large flowers in an unbranched raceme.[1] The flowers measure about 25–45 mm in diameter, and are yellow with red markings on the lip of the side lobes.[1]
Conservation and uses
editThis species is common in most parts of its distribution range in southern Africa,[1] however it does make a good garden plant[2] and is vulnerable to collectors. In South Africa, all orchids are protected by law and the plants must not be removed from the wild without a permit; only nursery-grown plants can be cultivated legally.[1] These plants are used in African tradition as an emetic and as a protective charm against storms.[2]
Gallery
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Eulopia speciosa from Amanzimtoti, South Africa -
Close-up of a flower -
'Fruit' of Eulophia speciosa
Synonyms
editLissochilus speciosus R.Br. ex Lindl. is the basionym. Other synonyms include:
- Cymbidium giganteum (L.f.) Sw.
- Cyrtopera gigantea (L.f.) Lindl.
- Epidendrum giganteum (L.f.) Poir
- Eulophia austrooccidentalis Sölch
- Eulophia brevisepala (Rendle) Summerh.
- Eulophia caloptera (Rchb.f.) Summerh.
- Eulophia coutreziana Geerinck
- Eulophia dispersa N.E.Br.
- Eulophia granitica (Rchb.f.) Cufod.
- Eulophia homblei (De Wild.) Butzin
- Eulophia leucantha (Kraenzl.) Sölch
- Eulophia sapinii De Wild.
- Eulophia speciosa var. culveri Schltr.
- Eulophia volkensii (Rolfe) Butzin
- Eulophia wakefieldii (Rchb.f. & S.Moore) Summerh.
- Limodorum giganteum (L.f.) Thunb.
- Lissochilus brevisepalus Rendle
- Lissochilus calopterus Rchb.f.
- Lissochilus dispersus (N.E.Br.) Rolfe
- Lissochilus graniticus Rchb.f.
- Lissochilus hereroensis Kraenzl.
- Lissochilus homblei De Wild.
- Lissochilus leucanthus Kraenzl.
- Lissochilus rendlei Rolfe
- Lissochilus sapinii De Wild.
- Lissochilus speciosus var. culveri (Schltr.) Rolfe
- Lissochilus volkensii Rolfe
- Lissochilus wakefieldii Rchb.f. & S.Moore
- Satyrium giganteum L.f.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/eulophspec.htm Archived 23 October 2010 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 6 November 2010.
- ^ a b c Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. ISBN 0-620-21500-3.
External links
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Media related to Eulophia speciosa at Wikimedia Commons- Dressler, S.; Schmidt, M. & Zizka, G. (2014). "Eulophia speciosa". African plants – a Photo Guide. Frankfurt/Main: Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg.
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