Eulophia calantha Schltr.

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Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Mabenga area, Lufwanyama Distr., Copperbelt Province

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Lumwana area, Mwinilunga Distr., North-Western Province

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Synonyms:	Eulophia calantha var. Kubangensis Schltr. Lissochilus kapandensis De Wild. Lissochilus monoceras Kraenzl
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb 25-78 cm tall growing from subterranean irregular-shaped tubers c. 1-3 cm x 8-15 mm; leaves 1-2, 25-45 x 3-5 mm, grass-like, linear, ribbed, usually absent or just starting to shoot at flowering time; inflorescence laxly 3-7 flowered; scape with 3-4 scattered, scarious sheaths; flowers white, pale pink or lilac, the lip edged with purple or occasionally all purple; bracts 8-20 mm long, lanceolate; ovary and pedicel 12-18 mm long; sepals all similar, reflexed, oblong-lanceolate; petals 17-20 x 8-14 mm, elliptic to obovate, projecting over column; lip 14-20 x 9-15 mm, 3-lobed, curved in side view; mid-lobe 7-10 mm long with 3-5 fleshy rugulose yellow crests running down to near apex, side lobes obliquely oblong; spur 5-7 mm long, conical to cylindrical.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	Seasonally wet dambos and grasslands
Altitude range:	600 - 1330 m
Flowering time:	Dec - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Guinea; Central African Republic and DRC east to Kenya south to Angola, Zambia and Malawi.
Malawi distribution:	N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Pages 495 - 497. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 337. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Pages 115 - 116. (Includes a picture). Summerhayes, V.S. (1953). African Orchids: XXII Kew Bulletin 8(4) Page 585. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 170 - 171. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Eulophia calantha:

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Flora of Burundi: Eulophia calantha
Flora of Zambia: Eulophia calantha

External websites:

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