Orthochilus foliosus

Orthochilus foliosus, commonly called loetsane in Southern Sotho, and scientifically formed part of Eulophia under different names, also at one stage Cymbidium buchanani, is a stout perennial growing an annual flower stalk of about 60 cm from an underground tuber.

The species distribution is in the Eastern Cape, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo, as well as parts of Swaziland, Zimbabwe and perhaps further afield.

The habitat is open, rocky grassland where large stands in flower are sometimes seen. The habitat population is considered of least concern early in the twenty first century.

This plant is available in the horticultural market, often grown from seed. It is said to be difficult to cultivate (Pooley, 1998; Onderstall, 1984; iNaturalist; www.woc21.org; http://redlist.sanbi.org).