Eulophia petersii (Rchb. f.) Rchb. f. |
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Family : ORCHIDACEAE |
Information on the genus : Eulophia |
Basionym : Galeandra petersii Rchb. f. |
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Status
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Status for SA : | accepted (present) |
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Status for TA : | accepted (present) |
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Synonym(s) Homotypic |
Galeandra petersii Rchb. f. |
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Synonym(s) Heterotypic |
=Eulophia caffra Rchb. f. |
=Eulophia circinnata Rolfe (1910) |
=Eulophia baginsensis Rchb. f. |
=Eulophia coleae Rolfe (1897) |
=Eulophia gumbariensis De Wild. (1919) |
=Eulophia longipedunculata Rendle (1895) |
=Eulophia phillipsiae Rolfe (1897) |
=Eulophia schimperiana A. Rich. (1850) |
=Eulophia smithii Rolfe (1897) |
=Epidendrum schimperi Hochst. ex A. Rich. |
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Ecology and distribution |
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Biology : |
Terrestrial herb 1-3,5 m tall; pseudobulbs mostly above ground, spindle-shaped, 6-23-30x1,5-4 cm, linked by a rhizome, green to yellow, ribbed; roots fleshy, white; leaves 2-4 per pseudobulb, grey-green, stiff, folded, ± erect, fleshy-leathery, linear-ligulate, 14-80x1,2-6 cm, margins serrate; inflorescence “of heroic proportions”, 1-2 m tall, 3-7-branched, laxly many-flowered, branches to 35 cm long; peduncle to 90 cm long, 1-1,5 cm Ø, with 4 well-spaced bracts; flowers fleshy, cream, brown or violet outside, white and yellow inside; bracts lanceolate-acuminate, 5-16 mm long; pedicel and ovary 20-40 mm long; sepals erect, oblanceolate, coiled, 17-23x4-5 mm; petals oblanceolate, 15-22x4-8 mm, overlying column; lip to 27 mm long, 8-17 mm wide, 3-lobed; side lobes elliptic, erect; mid-lobe ± circular; callus of 3 purple fleshy ridges, raised and erose on mid-lobe, turning to papillae near apex; spur cylindric-subclavate, 4-6 mm long, incurved; fruit pendent, 40-46 mm long. |
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Ecology : |
Deciduous and semi-evergreen bushland; grassland among rocks in dry locations; coral cliffs near sea shore; by sea in sandy soil, rocky places; Acacia-Commiphora, Grewia and other thickets and bushland; riverine thicket in hot dry areas, usually on a bank well above a river; in black soil between slabs of granite rock; growing in clumps of large succulents, e.g., Euphorbia candelabrum, E. debilispina, Aloe excelsa, A. chabaudii, Sansevieria (for details, see Cactus & Co. 13/1: 37-43, 2009); 0-2000 m alt. |
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Variable plant, particularly in size of pseudobulbs and width of leaves. |
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S. Africa, Swaziland; Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen (Wood, Handbook Yemen flora: 411, 1997). |
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Said to be easy to cultivate (not always so).
When not in flower “it is most likely to be confused with species of Sansevieria, amongst which it usually grows” (la Croix & al., Orchids Malawi: 331, 1991).
Seeds have been used for in vitro cultures (S. Afric. J. Bot. 64: 264, 1998; Syst. Geogr. Pl. 71: 587, 2002). |
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Biol./Eco : |
perennial-Herb, Geophyte, Succulent- Ht 0.8 - 2 m. Alt: 106 - 1220 m. Distribution: KN, LP, MP, SWZ |
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Bibliography for Tropical Africa :
- (1989). Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae[3]: 442
Bibliography for Southern Africa :
- Fl. Pl. South Africa 8: t.313 (1928).
- List South. African Succ. Pl. : 130 (1997).
- Orchids of Southern Africa : 387 (1999).
- Checklist Flow. Pl. Sub-Saharan Africa : 803 (2006).
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More info on : |
see under Jstor_African Plant Initiative |
see under Flore d'Afrique Centrale |
see under Flora of Mozambique |
see under African Plants - a Photo Guide |
see under Flora of Zimbabwe |
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Map |
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More information >> ( work in progress )
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Record n°45773 |
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