Eulophia Andamanensis

Eulophia andamanensis is an orchid endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands (off the east coast of India between 6°45′N 93°12′E / 6.75°N 93.2°E / 6.75; 93.2 and 13°41′N 93°57′E / 13.683°N 93.95°E / 13.683; 93.95).

The genus Eulophia belongs to the subfamily Epidendroideae, tribe Cymbidieae, and subtribe Cyrtopodiinae. Eulophia andamanensis is found growing wild in the Little Andaman Islands, where the temperature ranges between 23–30 °C and the annual average rainfall is 3473 mm. Tropical evergreen forest floors of Andamans is the habitat of this orchid, and it is scarcely distributed.

The growth habit is sympodial. The stem at the base is bulbous, with thick roots. The leaves are short during flowering, linear lanceolate. The bracts are shorter than the pedicel, the sepals 2 cm long, the lip shorter than the sepals. The sepals are linear lanceolate, 3–5 nerved, acuminate; both the sepals and petals are pale green in colour, the lip green at the base and white at the centre with maroon horizontal striations. The flowering period is from November to March, with the florets borne on long spikes (0.6–1.3 m long), and last for about 50 days.

Read more about Eulophia Andamanensis:  Description