I only recently realized that I probably had wild-growing orchids virtually on my door step. I mean, I know orchids exist in a wide range of habitats, but I considered the fairly dry thornbush savanna to be a less likely spot for them than many other places.
After googling some eulophia species, I came across a photo of an Eulophia speciosa, and something just fell into place. I KNEW I had seen that flower in the wild somewhere, and I remembered approximately where.
I've been driving around in that part of the farm searching for yellow flowers since the first rains begun, and with no luck.
But then...finally....
According to
OrchidSpecies the Eulophia speciosa can be found in large parts of central and southern Africa. It grows in grasslands and deciduous woodland in poor rocky soils or even in sand dunes, up to 2000 meters above sea level (the farm is roughly on 1700 m). It is a terrestrial growing plant with underground pseudobulbs. When I begun to look around, I realized the area where I can see the flowers is like a mine field, full of half-hidden bulbs in the sand.
It flowers in the spring and/or early summer. And it is fragrant! Yes, indeed. It smells like vanilla!
the fence poles have been marked and from now on I will always be able to find them.
Eulophia speciosa
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