Eulophia, commonly known as corduroy orchids,
Description
Orchids in the genus
Eulophia are mostly terrestrial
Herbaceous plant with either an underground rhizome or pseudobulbs on the surface. The only two
Epiphyte species occur on
Madagascar. Many species have no leaves, but when leaves are present they are long and narrow, sometimes . The flowers are borne on a flowering stem which sometimes appears before the leaves with a few to many flowers. The flowers in some species are small but others have large, showy flowers in a wide range of colours. The sepals are usually larger than the petals but the labellum has three lobes and a spur or pouch at its base.
Taxonomy and naming
The genus
Eulophia was first formally described by
John Lindley in 1821 and the description was published in
The Botanical Register. Because Robert Brown had previously used the name
Eulophia in describing
Lissochilus speciosus, and the name of that species was changed to
Eulophia speciosa, Brown is the accepted author of the name. "Eulophia" is derived from the
Ancient Greek words
eu meaning "good", "well" or "true"
and
lophos meaning "mane", "crest", "comb", "tuft" or "ridge",
possibly referring to the labellum callus of some species.
Distribution and habitat
Orchids in the genus
Eulophia are distributed in shady rainforests or in open scrub or woodland in the tropics and subtropics of
Africa,
India,
Asia,
Queensland, and the
Americas, although most are found in Africa. Many can survive the dry season through their large bulbous ‘corms’. Some species, such as
Eulophia petersii, have adapted to very arid environments and are among the few orchids to have truly evolved
desert living species.
Use in horticulture
In the frost-free, semi-arid areas of Southern California, many
Eulophia species, such as
Eulophia macra,
E. petersii,
E. plantaginea, and
E. speciosa, can be grown outdoors year-round in well-drained pots with cactus/succulent potting mix (although
E. speciosa prefers being grown in pure white sand), as long as they are given ample light through the winter and a drier winter resting period. Warmer growers, such as
Eulophia pulchra and possibly even the extremely rare and difficult
E. cucullata (the foxglove orchid), can probably be grown outdoors in the warmer south areas of
Florida and
Hawaii, also. The generally large, underground, fleshy
rhizome indicates a
sympodial growth habit, and this makes Eulophias fairly easy to divide and propagate, provided the grower is gentle.
Species
See List of
Eulophia species
Hybrids
Primary hybrids
As of 9 Sept 2021, the following primary hybrids have been registered with the Royal Horticultural Society:
-
Eulophia 'Allan Abel' ( E. streptopetala x E. guineensis)
-
Eulophia 'Douglas McMurtry' ( Eulophia ovalis x E. speciosa)
-
Eulophia × flavopurpurea ( E. cristata x E. millsonii)
-
Eulophia 'Jaco Truter' ( E. hereroensis x E. streptopetala)
-
Eulophia 'Jeannie Wolff' ( E. streptopetala x E. speciosa)
-
Eulophia 'John Davison' ( E. euglossa x E. andamanensis)
-
Eulophia 'Memoria Alexis Pardo' ( E. guineensis x E. andamanensis)
-
Eulophia 'Michael Tibbs' ( E. guineensis x E. speciosa)
-
Eulophia 'Olive Delight' ( Eulophia cooperi x E. hereroensis)
-
Eulophia × pholelana ( Eulophia ovalis x E. zeyheriana)
-
Eulophia 'Shamara' ( E. euglossa x E. guineensis)
Intergeneric hybrids
As off 9 Sept 2021, the following intergeneric hybrids made with
Eulophia as the seed/pod (capsule-bearing) parent have been registered with the Royal Horticultural Society:
-
Cymbidilophia 'Jumbo Kehong' ( E. andamanensis x Cymbidiella pardalina)
-
Euclades 'Indianapolis' ( E. guineensis x Oeceoclades saundersiana)
-
Eulobidium 'Rakthai' ( E. andamanensis x Cymbidium aloifolium)
-
Eulomangis 'Jumbo Gram' ( E. graminea x Grammangis spectabilis)
-
Eulomangis 'Jumbo Keith' ( E. andamanensis x Grammangis spectabilis)
-
Eulomangis 'Jumbo Pete' ( E. petersii x Grammangis ellisii)
-
Eulophyllum 'Jumbo Keith' ( E. andamanensis x Grammatophyllum measuresianum)
-
Eulosellia 'Jumbo Nilotica' ( E. graminea x Ansellia africana)
-
Eulosellia 'Jumbo Nilotica' ( E. graminea x Ansellia africana)
-
Graphophia 'SAJVOL Germinator' ( E. petersii x Graphorkis concolor)
A further three intergeneric hybrids have been registered with Eulophia as the pollen parent:
-
Euclades 'Saint Léger' ( Oeceoclades cordylinophylla x E. guineensis)
-
Eulophyllum 'Jumbo Amos' ( Grammatophyllum scriptum x E. andamanensis)
-
Gramcymbiphia 'Jumbo Lovely' ( Grammatocymbidium 'Lovely Melody' x E. guineensis)
===Gallery===
External links
