Eulophia R. Brown ex Lindley
in Botanical Register 8 (1823), t. 686

Introduction:Some two hundred species are known to occur throughout the tropics with its centre of distribution in Africa.

Derivation of genus name: Eulophia was first described by John Lindely in 1923. The genus name was taken from the Greek eu (well, true) and lophos (plume) in reference to the crested ridges of the lip in some species.

Type species: Eulophia guineensis Lindley (type cons)

Characteristics of the genus: Terrestrial herbs, with lanceolate, plicate leaves; the inflorescence arises from near the base of the stem and is few to many-flowered. The flowers are often showy, opening over a period of time. Some species of Eulophia have a large, fleshy subterranean rhizome, they may be deciduous or evergreen and some are leafless saprophytes.

Number of sections and/or subsections in genus:

View photo: Eulophia species

Habitat: Found in shady rain forests or in open woodland.

Conservation status: not known