Grass Leaf Wild Coco

Closely related to Eulophia epidendraea (Koen.) C.E.C. Fischer (1928); according to U.C. Pradhan, Indian Orchids 2:450. 1979, even identical. The latter is leafless when in flower, as opposed to Eulophia graminea.

Plants with scape separate form shoot with many linear-lanceolate, persistent leaves. Scape lateral, exceeding the leaves, slender, up to 60-80 cm, with scattered, broadly ovate, c.10 mm long sheaths. Inflorescence lax, ± branched. Bracts lanceo¬late, acuminate, 5-8 mm long. Flowers spreading, greenish with darker purple, netted veins; sepals lanceolate, acuminate; petals somewhat broader, acute. Labellum 12 mm long, 3-lobed; side-lobes pale green to purplish, small, triangular- oblong, obtuse; mid lobe pale rose, subrotund, with undulate margins; disk in centre between side-lobes with 3-5 purple nerves, getting densely fimbriate on mid-lobe. Spur cylindric, 3-4 mm long, slightly dilated at apex. Column 4-5 mm. Ovary glabrous, with equally long, hardly twisted pedicel; ripe seed-capsule enlarged.

Himalaya (Nepal, Sikkim), Malaya.

Distribution: Kashmir, eastwards to Burma, Thailand, Malaya, also Sri Lanka, Nikobar Isl., Phillipines, Taiwan.

900-l000 m

Fl. Per.: March-May; in lower regions, November to January.

Eulophia graminea, the Chinese crown orchid, is a species of orchid native to Asia. It often develops a pseudobulb. It is considered invasive in Florida and spreads with wood chip mulch. Flowers are green and brownish purple.