Orthochilus ensatus

Orthochilus ensatus is a slender, yet robust perennial, a terrestrial orchid presenting its flower clusters at heights of up to 1 m. Summer-growing, the plant is winter-deciduous.

Its distribution is coastal in the south, the Eastern Cape, but spreads also inland across KwaZulu-Natal, continuing into the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo; it also occurs in tropical Africa.

The habitat is open grassland and forest plantations, often among rocks and partial shade. These regions receive summer rain. The tubers are dug up for use in traditional medicine. Yet, the species is not considered to be under threat in habitat early in the twenty first century.

Until recently (early in the twenty first century), the name of the species was Eulophia ensata (Pooley, 1998; Manning, 2009; www.plantzafrica.com).