Eulophia orthoplectra (Rchb. f.) Summerh.

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Eulophia orthoplectra

Habit
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Inflorescence
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Flowers
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Flowers Profile
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Flower parts
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Flower Labellum
Miombo woodland
Lusaka East Forestry Reserve
Aug 2020
Photo: Nick Wightman

Eulophia orthoplectra

Photo: Werner Fibeck
National Botanic Garden, Harare.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Eulophia bella N.E. Br.
Eulophia orthoplectra (Rchb.f.) Summerh. var. rugulosa (Summerh.) Geerinck
Lissochilus bellus (N.E. Br.) Schltr.
Lissochilus kraenzlinii Rolfe
Lissochilus milanjianus Rendle
Lissochilus monticola Rendle
Lissochilus orthoplectrus Rchb.f.
Lissochilus saccatus Rendle
Lissochlus pulcher Schltr.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Terrestrial herb 26-100 cm tall growing from irregular asymmetrical tubers, c. 3-6 x 2-5 cm; leaves 2-4, 18 -50 x 0.7-2 cm, linear, fleshy, leaves absent at flowering time; inflorescence laxly few to many flowered; scape purplish with several sheaths; sepals purple-brown, petals yellow flushed with red-brown and heavily veined with red on the inside, lip yellow with side lobes veined red on inside, spur red-brown; bracts 8-13 mm long, linear, acuminate; ovary and pedicel 10-20 mm long, purple; sepals all similar, oblanceolate, apiculate 8-13.5 x 4-6 mm; petals 13-19 x 12-19 mm, suborbicular to elliptic-ovate, apiculate, held horizontal; lip 16-26 mm long and hard to flatten, 3-lobed; mid-lobe 8.5-12.5 x 7-9 mm, with a callus of 5 ridges, convex, elliptic-obovate obtuse or apiculate; side lobes erect, joined to base of column; spur 6-9 mm long (13-16 mm long to apex of ovary), conical-cylindrical from a wide mouth, horizontal or slightly deflexed.
Type location:
Tanzania
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Aug - Sep
Worldwide distribution: Nigeria east to Kenya south to Zimbabwe.
Botanical divisions:
Growth form(s): Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 323.

Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 26.

Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 60.

Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Page 220. (Includes a picture).

Geerinck, D. (1988). Orchidaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume IV Page 575. As Eulophia orthoplectra var. rugulosa (Includes a picture).

Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 81.

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Page 477.

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 339. (Includes a picture).

Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 95.

Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 41 - 42. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 120.

Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 122. (Includes a picture).

Strugnell, A.M. (2006). A Checklist of the Spermatophytes of Mount Mulanje, Malawi Scripta Botanica Belgica 34 National Botanic Garden of Belgium Page 136.

Summerhayes, V.S. (1958). African orchids XXV Kew Bulletin 13(1) Pages 76 - 77.

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 176. (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Eulophia orthoplectra:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Eulophia orthoplectra
Flora of Mozambique: Eulophia orthoplectra
Flora of Rwanda: Eulophia orthoplectra
Flora of Zambia: Eulophia orthoplectra
Flora of Zimbabwe: Eulophia orthoplectra

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Eulophia orthoplectra
African Plant Database: Eulophia orthoplectra
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Eulophia orthoplectra
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Eulophia orthoplectra
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Eulophia orthoplectra
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Eulophia orthoplectra
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Eulophia orthoplectra
JSTOR Plant Science: Eulophia orthoplectra
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Eulophia orthoplectra
Plants of the World Online: Eulophia orthoplectra
Tropicos: Eulophia orthoplectra
Wikipedia: Eulophia orthoplectra


Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-25

The DRC flora team (2025). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Species information: Eulophia orthoplectra.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=119440, retrieved 18 October 2025

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