Orthochilus euanthus (Schltr.) Bytebier

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Orthochilus euanthus

Flower
Miombo woodland
Lilayi Lodge
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Orthochilus euanthus

Habit
Miombo woodland
Lilayi Lodge
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Orthochilus euanthus

Inflorescence
Miombo woodland
Lilayi Lodge
Dec 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

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

Synonyms: Eulophia abyssinica var. euantha (Schltr.) Geerinck
Eulophia euantha Schltr.
Eulophia speciosa Rolfe. nom illegit
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:
Description:
Terrestrial herb 20-40 cm tall from subterranean irregular shaped tubers 2-2.5 cm long and 1.6-2 cm in diameter forming chains; leaves 1-3, 12-45 cm x 1.5-10 mm, linear and grass-like, acuminate, ribbed, absent or partly developed at flowering; inflorescence densely 4-12 flowered, scape with 3 short sheaths in the basal half; ovary and pedicel c. 10 mm long; bracts spreading, 10-25 mm long, lanceolate; flowers not opening wide, spreading at first and becoming pendulous, white to pale or lilac pink, lip with a large darker blotch; sepals 19-33 x 5-12 mm, oblong, the laterals oblique and slightly keeled on outside; petals 17-25 x 5-9 mm, oblong to oblong elliptic; lip 16-25 x 10-19 mm, 3-lobed, side lobes small, rounded, mid-lobe up to 15 mm wide, transversely oblong to orbicular with a callus of 2 papillate ridges from the base to the junction of the lobes and sparse long papillae on the mid-lobe; spur 2-4 mm long, cylindrical, horizontal or incurved.
Type location:
Tanzania
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:Nov - Dec
Worldwide distribution: From Burundi and Tanzania south to DRC, Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique.
Botanical divisions:
Growth form(s):
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.

Geerinck, D. (1992). Orchidaceae (seconde partie) Flore d'Afrique Centrale Jardin botanique national de Belgique Page 680. as Eulophia abyssinica var. euantha (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Page 505. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 305. (Includes a picture).

Martos, F., Johnson, S.D., Peter, C.I & Bytebier, B. (2014). A molecular phylogeny reveals paraphyly of the large genus Eulophia (Orchidaceae): A case for the reinstatement of Orthochilus Taxon 63(1) Page 19.

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

Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 177.

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

Vollesen, K. & Merrett, L. (2019). Field Guide to the (wetter) Zambian Miombo Woodland. Part 1 (Ferns & Monocots) GVPedia Communications Page 175. (Includes a picture).

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 154 - 155. As Eulophia euantha (Includes a picture).


Other sources of information about Orthochilus euanthus:

Our websites:

Flora of Burundi: Orthochilus euanthus
Flora of Malawi: Orthochilus euanthus
Flora of Mozambique: Orthochilus euanthus
Flora of Zambia: Orthochilus euanthus

External websites:

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


Copyright: The DRC flora team, 2024-26

The DRC flora team (2026). Flora of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Species information: Orthochilus euanthus.
https://www.drcongoflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=174080, retrieved 17 April 2026

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