Eulophia petersii (Rchb. fil.) Rchb. fil.

petersii: named after Professor Wilhelm Peters (1815-1863) of Berlin who collected in Mozambique in the early 19th century.

Robust terrestrial with large pseudobulbs mostly above ground. Leaves 2-4, grey-green, stiffly succulent with serrated margins, somewhat folded along their length. Inflorescences up to 2.5 m tall, branched, laxly many-flowered. Petals erect and sepals overlying the column, all green, heavily tinged with purple-brown and curled back at the apex. Lip 3-lobed; sidelobes greenish with purple veining; mid-lobe white with purple lamellae. Spur 6 mm, cylindric.

Frequent

Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.