Eulophia tricristata Schltr.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Cuanavale Source, Luchazes, Angola

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Synonyms:	Lissochilus tricristatus (Schltr.) Szlach.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb 50–120 cm tall. Leaves absent at flowering time, later 2-3, c. 30 cm long and 4 cm wide. Inflorescence laxly few- to several-flowered; scape with 2 loose sheaths up to 3 cm long. Pedicel and ovary 25-28 mm long. Bracts 16-20 mm long. Flowers deep purple or green and mauve-pink, the lip with white hairs. Sepals oblong to narrowly elliptical, 17-25 mm long, acute, more or less reflexed. Petals broadly elliptic, 21-25 mm long, obtuse, but with a narrow base. Lip 25-28 mm long, 20 mm wide when flattened, 3-lobed, with 3 double rows of lacerate crests; side lobes rounded, erect; mid-lobe 15 × 10 mm, the margins crisped or undulate; spur 10 mm long, conical, straight.
Type location:	Angola
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	tricristata: with three crests, referring to the lip.
Habitat:	Perennially wet grassland
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Tanzania, Zambia and Angola.
FZ divisions:	N,W,C
Zambian distribution (Provinces):	Nw,Mc,C
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Wednesday 25 June 2025
Literature:	La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1998). Orchidaceae (Part 2) Flora Zambesiaca 11(2) Page 489. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 120. Vollesen, K. & Merrett, L. (2019). Field Guide to the (wetter) Zambian Miombo Woodland. Part 1 (Ferns & Monocots) GVPedia Communications Page 171. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 172 - 173. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Eulophia tricristata:

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Eulophia tricristata
African Plant Database: Eulophia tricristata
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Eulophia tricristata
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Eulophia tricristata
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Eulophia tricristata
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Eulophia tricristata
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Eulophia tricristata
JSTOR Plant Science: Eulophia tricristata
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Eulophia tricristata
Plants of the World Online: Eulophia tricristata
Tropicos: Eulophia tricristata
Wikipedia: Eulophia tricristata