Eulophia hians var. hians

Eulophia hians var. hians is a cormous perennial growing an annual slender flower stalk of about 70 cm in height. The plant used to be called E. clavicornis var. clavicornis. There are some Eulophia species that grow branched inflorescences, not single spikes as this species does. 

A separate shoot produces leaves next to the flower stem. The leaves are narrow, ascending and channelled. They are often not yet fully developed when the plant is in bloom.

The distribution of this variety of E. hians is widespread in the east of South Africa, occurring in eight provinces excluding the Northern Cape. It also favours the east of the western cape and the Free State. The range extends to Lesotho, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and more countries of the region. This plant was photographed near Roossenekal flowering in August.

The habitat is open grassland where it rains in summer. The habitat population of the variety is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (iNaturalist; Wikipedia; http://redlist.sanbi.org).