Eulophia streptopetala

Eulophia streptopetala is a perennial with partly above-ground pseudobulbs. Its thin leaves are lanceolate and longitudinally pleated or ribbed. The flower-spike consists of spaced yellow, green and brown flowers, about 3 cm wide.

The two upper petals are basally twisted to join and shield the lip from above. Streptos means bent in Greek, referring to the twisted petals causing their inclination. The lip crest consists of fleshy yellow ridges that taper gradually to the lip apex. The spur is short, around 2 mm long and between cylindrical and conical in shape. The photo was taken in December. Flowers can be expected in habitat from mid-spring to midsummer.

The species distribution ranges from the South African east coast in the Eastern Province to Limpopo and Gauteng where it grows in the Magaliesberg. In addition, the plant has a large distribution across the eastern parts of Africa to Eritrea and the Yemen.

The habitat of E. streptopetala is grassland and the margins of scrub or open bush terrain. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Manning, 2009; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; www.redlist.sanbi.org).