Southern African rescue orchids...I think

[Silje]

Right.

Over the few years that I've been collecting orchids, I've come to realize that there are quite a number of weird and wonderful specimens growing in gardens in this country. Except for the common Ansellia africana, and that one is more often called a leopard flower than by its' actual name, people generally got no idea that the weird plant 'growing under the tree in the backyard' is actually an orchid. Most people don't even have a clue how it ended up there in the first place.

I ended up with a Eulophia petersii like that. I stumbled over it by coincidence and the owner was more than happy to give me a couple of bulbs.

I admit it, these plants have probably at some stage been collected in the wild, and over time some of them find their way back into nurseries and garden centers when the owners decide to thin out the specimen plants and have the sense to sell them instead of just dumping them on the compost heap.

I recently found a dozen of Ansellias labelled Amaryllis (?!) at a local nursery. For the ridiculous price of $1 per plant, I bought them all and re-distributed them amongst family and friends with watering directions.

So today, I stopped by some acquaintances that have recently purchased a new house. And....as previously, I just stumbled across a few interesting things that would have probably been seeing the compost heap within a couple of days to make room for roses and...well, amaryllis, I guess.

First plant:




It's quite tall and has leaves that remind me a bit of my lycastes in texture. It's sunburned and the leaves are in bad shape, but it's got several new growths emerging. It must be a terrestrial orchid of some sort, probably a local species from southern Africa. I'm guessing Zimbabwe/Mozambique or thereabout, but I've got no idea what family it could be and would appreciate suggestions from you guys.


Plant 2:








Now, I'm not 100% sure that this is an orchid, but I think it might be. The roots look very orchid to me. The leaves maybe not so much. It's got very soft leaves, but the growth pattern is like a lot of the vandaeous species. It apparently flowers from short branches and there are old, wilted flowers still attached to some of them. Got absolutely no idea what this can be. Again, I'm guessing it's a species from southern/eastern Africa, and I would love to get some suggestions that can at least point me in a direction.

[euplusia]

The first plant looks like a Phaius from southeast Asia (not one from Madagascar, which are a synonymous to Gastrorchis).
The second one is an Angraecoid, i guess.

[Silje]

It got leaves like a phaius, I agree, but I think the bulbs look different.

I've also been thinking that the second one is an angraecoid.

[Leafmite]

I can't wait until we can see the blooms!!!! Great finds!

[Silje]

My mystery orchid is flowering, and I think it is an Eulophia pulchra

Here are some new pictures of the flower and the plant.

[euplusia]

Thanks for the update. I am sure you solved it. Eulophia pulchra is widespread from southern Africa all over the coasts and isles of the Indian Ocean, southeast Asia and Oceania.