Eulophia petersii growing and flower in situ
Eulophia petersii - this is one curiously robust semi terrestrial African species. From the attached pictures, you can see it growing in cracks and crevice amongst granite kopjes (rocky hills) in exposed hot sunny locations.
I believe there are roughly 200 species of Eulophia worldwide, and we have about 70 odd species growing naturally in my country, Zimbabwe.
Eulophia petersii is a good orchid for the novice amongst us – it can take a hammering of abuse and still flower. In fact I have seen huge specimens of petersii caught up in bush fires and I’ve gone back some months later to find it spiking. It has thick succulent leaves and is a robust species.
It has been recorded that during the dry season in Africa, when water is in very short supply, wild animals, monkeys and baboons have been seen eating the leaves and pseudobulbs of petersii and other orchids such as Ansellia in order to source moisture.
Sadly some native species of Eulophia are threatened, local African tribes people use some species for traditional medicines and it has now been over collected in areas.
Eulophia petersii is still quite common in it’s range and has no know medicinal properties that I know of but sadly the granite woodland in which it grows is very much threatened (too many people in this world).
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Threaded Mode
