Eulophia mumbwaensis Summerh.

General Description

Terrestrial herb 25–80 cm tall.Perennating organs pseudobulbous, mostly subterranean, 2–4 × 1–1.5 cm, conical with 3–4 nodes, covered with brown sheaths, drying dull orange, forming a chain; roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter.Leaves 4–8, up to 9 cm × 3 mm, linear, grass-like, green, absent or poorly developed at flowering time.Inflorescence laxly 5–9-flowered; scape with 1–2 sheaths.Pedicel and ovary 7–14 mm long, purplish; bracts 5–9 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.Flowers spreading or subnutant; sepals purple-brown; petals cream or yellow with brownish veins; lip yellow, the side lobes purple-veined; spur reddish.Sepals spreading, 15–18 × 1–2.5 mm, linear, acuminate.Petals 8–10 × 2–3 mm, oblong or lanceolate-oblong, obtuse or apiculate, lying over the column.Lip 10–14 × 6–8 mm, 3-lobed in the middle; side lobes erect, rounded or subacute in front; mid-lobe 5–8 × 3–4 mm, narrowly obovate or elliptic, obtuse, mucronate; callus of 3 fleshy, basal ridges and long papillae on the mid-lobe; spur 3–5 mm long, cylindrical to conical, sometimes slightly swollen at the apex, bent down about half-way.Column 3–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.Capsule pendent, 20–22 mm long.

A terrestrial herb 28–75 cm. tall. Perennating organs pseudobulbous, proximate, conical, 2–4 cm. tall, 1–1.2 cm. diameter, drying dull orange, 3–4-noded; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 4–8, vestigial, linear, acuminate, up to 9 cm. long, 2 mm. wide, green, lowermost 3 sheathing. Inflorescence laxly 5–9-flowered; peduncle with 1–2 distant sheaths along length; rhachis 15–27 cm. long; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 5–9 mm. long. Flowers subnutant; sepals maroon-brown; petals pale brown striped with purple; lip yellow with purple veins on side lobes and a reddish spur; pedicel and ovary 7–14 mm. long, purple. Dorsal sepal spreading, linear, acuminate, 16–18 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar. Petals porrect, oblong-elliptic, obtuse or slightly apiculate, 8–10 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 10–14 mm. long, 6–8 mm. wide; side lobes narrowly elliptic, rounded in front; mid-lobe elliptic, obtuse; callus of 3 fleshy ridges on disc and long papillate in front on mid-lobe; spur incurved, conical-subclavate, 4–5 mm. long. Column 3–4 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 22 mm. long.

A terrestrial herb 28–75 cm. tall. Perennating organs pseudobulbous, proximate, conical, 2–4 cm. tall, 1–1.2 cm. diameter, drying dull orange, 3–4-noded; roots 1–1.5 mm. diameter, white. Leaves 4–8, vestigial, linear, acuminate, up to 9 cm. long, 2 mm. wide, green, lowermost 3 sheathing. Inflorescence laxly 5–9-flowered; peduncle with 1–2 distant sheaths along length; rhachis 15–27 cm. long; bracts lanceolate, acuminate, 5–9 mm. long. Flowers subnutant; sepals maroon-brown; petals pale brown striped with purple; lip yellow with purple veins on side lobes and a reddish spur; pedicel and ovary 7–14 mm. long, purple. Dorsal sepal spreading, linear, acuminate, 16–18 mm. long, 1 mm. wide; lateral sepals similar. Petals porrect, oblong-elliptic, obtuse or slightly apiculate, 8–10 mm. long, 2–3 mm. wide. Lip 3-lobed, 10–14 mm. long, 6–8 mm. wide; side lobes narrowly elliptic, rounded in front; mid-lobe elliptic, obtuse; callus of 3 fleshy ridges on disc and long papillate in front on mid-lobe; spur incurved, conical-subclavate, 4–5 mm. long. Column 3–4 mm. long; foot 1 mm. long. Fruit pendent, 22 mm. long.

Habitat

Miombo and Kalahari Sand woodlands, and dry dambos on sandy soils and often on rocky hillsides

Dry rocky places in Brachystegia and other woodlands; 1200–1600 m.

Dry rocky places in Brachystegia and other woodlands; 1200–1600 m.

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

Morphology General Habit

Terrestrial herb 25–80 cm tall.

Vegetative Multiplication Pseudobulbs

Perennating organs pseudobulbous, mostly subterranean, 2–4 × 1–1.5 cm, conical with 3–4 nodes, covered with brown sheaths, drying dull orange, forming a chain; roots 1–1.5 mm in diameter.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves 4–8, up to 9 cm × 3 mm, linear, grass-like, green, absent or poorly developed at flowering time.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence laxly 5–9-flowered; scape with 1–2 sheaths.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel and Ovary

Pedicel and ovary 7–14 mm long, purplish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts 5–9 mm long, lanceolate, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers spreading or subnutant; sepals purple-brown; petals cream or yellow with brownish veins; lip yellow, the side lobes purple-veined; spur reddish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals spreading, 15–18 × 1–2.5 mm, linear, acuminate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 8–10 × 2–3 mm, oblong or lanceolate-oblong, obtuse or apiculate, lying over the column.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum

Lip 10–14 × 6–8 mm, 3-lobed in the middle; side lobes erect, rounded or subacute in front; mid-lobe 5–8 × 3–4 mm, narrowly obovate or elliptic, obtuse, mucronate; callus of 3 fleshy, basal ridges and long papillae on the mid-lobe; spur 3–5 mm long, cylindrical to conical, sometimes slightly swollen at the apex, bent down about half-way.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Column

Column 3–5 mm long; foot 1 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Capsule pendent, 20–22 mm long.

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