About Eulophia petersii (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.
This species of orchid, Eulophia petersii, produces thick, fleshy, very fibrous leaves with sharp serrated edges. The leaves resemble those of some Aloe or Sansevieria species, and typically reach 40 cm in length. Each pseudobulb usually grows between two and five leaves. The pseudobulbs themselves are yellow, distinctly ribbed, 30 cm long, and have a diameter of 3 to 4 cm. The form that grows at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen has a much smaller, more compact growth habit. Flowers are widely spaced along an inflorescence that can grow up to 2 m long, and the inflorescence is sometimes branched. Individual flowers are green with a wrinkled white lip. There is considerable variation in flower coloration between individual plants, and the sepals and petals are sometimes circinnate. Eulophia petersii can be crossed with Grammangis ellisii to produce the hybrid Eulomangis Jumbo Pete. This orchid occurs in arid environments in Northern Frontier Province, Kenya, along the eastern coast of Africa, and in the former Transvaal region of South Africa. Eulophia petersii is an unusual member of the orchid family because it inhabits harsh environments, often growing in full sun. It is most often found growing in acidic sandy soils or on rock outcroppings.
