About Eulophia speciosa (R.Br.) Bolus
Eulophia speciosa grows from underground corms or pseudobulbs that produce fleshy, lanceolate leaves. It produces a leafless flowering shoot that grows between 0.4 and 0.8 meters tall, occasionally reaching up to 1.2 meters. The shoot bears an unbranched raceme that holds up to 30 relatively large flowers. Each flower measures 25 to 45 millimeters in diameter; they are yellow, with red markings on the lip of their side lobes.
This species is common across most of its distribution range in southern Africa. It makes a suitable garden plant, which makes it vulnerable to collection from the wild. All orchids are protected by South African law: wild plants may not be removed without a permit, and only nursery-grown specimens can be legally cultivated. In African traditional practice, Eulophia speciosa is used as an emetic and as a protective charm against storms.
