Eulophia speciosa is a species of terrestrial orchid found from Ethiopia to South Africa and in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. The plants usually grow in grasslands in sandy soils or in clay.http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantefg/eulophspec.htm , retrieved 6 November 2010.
Description The fleshy, lanceolate leaves arise from underground corms/pseudobulbs. The leafless flowering shoot is about 0.4-0.8 m (up to 1.2mPooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to Wild Flowers; KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. .) tall, with up to 30 comparatively large flowers in an unbranched raceme. The flowers measure about 25–45 mm in diameter, and are yellow with red markings on the lip of the side lobes.
Conservation and uses This species is common in most parts of its distribution range in southern Africa, however it does make a good garden plant and is vulnerable to collectors. In South Africa, all orchids are protected by law and the plants must not be removed from the wild without a permit; only nursery-grown plants can be cultivated legally. These plants are used in African tradition as an emetic and as a protective charm against storms.
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Synonyms Lissochilus speciosus R.Br. ex Lindl. is the basionym. Other synonyms include: Cymbidium giganteum (L.f.) Sw. Cyrtopera gigantea (L.f.) Lindl. Epidendrum giganteum (L.f.) Poir Eulophia austrooccidentalis Sölch Eulophia brevisepala (Rendle) Summerh. Eulophia caloptera (Rchb.f.) Summerh. Eulophia coutreziana Geerinck Eulophia dispersa N.E.Br. Eulophia granitica (Rchb.f.) Cufod. Eulophia homblei (De Wild.) Butzin Eulophia leucantha (Kraenzl.) Sölch Eulophia sapinii De Wild. Eulophia speciosa var. culveri Schltr. Eulophia volkensii (Rolfe) Butzin Eulophia wakefieldii (Rchb.f. & S.Moore) Summerh. Limodorum giganteum (L.f.) Thunb. Lissochilus brevisepalus Rendle Lissochilus calopterus Rchb.f. Lissochilus dispersus (N.E.Br.) Rolfe Lissochilus graniticus Rchb.f. Lissochilus hereroensis Kraenzl. Lissochilus homblei De Wild. Lissochilus leucanthus Kraenzl. Lissochilus rendlei Rolfe Lissochilus sapinii De Wild. Lissochilus speciosus var. culveri (Schltr.) Rolfe Lissochilus volkensii Rolfe Lissochilus wakefieldii Rchb.f. & S.Moore Satyrium giganteum L.f.
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