Eulophia parviflora

Eulophia parviflora is a deciduous perennial, a terrestrial orchid growing to 60 cm, sometimes forming clumps. It grows from a subterranean rhizome that forms a bead-like string.

The plant grows about five leaves on a side-shoot, beginning at bloomtime. The basal leaves are tufted, leathery, folded and narrowly strap-shaped with acutely pointed tips. Leaf dimensions are about 25 cm by 1,6 cm, while there are also smaller leaves up the flower stem.

The species distribution is widespread across the east of South Africa from the Eastern Cape coast and KwaZulu-Natal to the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It also grows in Lesotho, Swaziland and further in Africa.

The habitat is open grassland on rocky slopes and coastal thornveld to elevations around 2000 m. The species is not considered to be threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century, although it is harvested for traditional medicine.

The backward curving spur below and the recurving median sepal above are visible in the lower flower seen in profile in the photo (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Pooley, 1998; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw; www.redlist.sanbi.org).