Eulophia gusukumae, also spelled Eulophia gusukumai
Eulophia inconspicua
Eulophia ramosa
Eulophia sinensis
Eulophia ucbii
Eulophia venusta
Graphorkis decipiens
Graphorkis graminea
Graphorkis inconspicua
Eulophia graminea is a species of orchid native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia,[3] although it has since spread to various other areas.[4] It is known as the Chinese crown orchid or the grass-leaved orchid.[5][6][7] In some places, it is considered an invasive species.[4] It has a pseudobulb, which is sometimes misleadingly referred to as a bulb.[4][8]
Eulophia graminea grows from a pseudobulb and produces a flower stalk that typically reaches 39 to 79cm (15 to 31in) in height,[9] however it is capable of growing up to 5ft (150cm; 60in) tall.[4][5] In Odisha, the orchid was reportedly producing keikis at the apex of its leaves, a novel trait previously unseen in orchids.[10] Its chloroplast genome is 149,481 bp in length.[11]
As a species, it was first formally described and published by botanist John Lindley in 1833. The orchid’s species epithet, graminea (meaning “grassy”),[12] refers to its leaves, which resemble grass.[4][13][14]
It is listed as a vulnerable species by the Okinawa Red List.[15] Reportedly, the species is also considered threatened in Sri Lanka.[13]
Pseudobulbs
The pseudobulbs are large with up to five narrow, grass-like leaves and roots on their underside.[5][7][16] It stores nutrients, allowing the orchid to persist and undergo vegetative reproduction.[4] The leaves range from 1 to 15in (2.5 to 38.1cm) long.[4] Sometimes, the pseudobulbs can grow partially exposed above the soil surface.[4]
As the pseudobulbs grow and expand, they can begin to lift structures on top of them; in one study, a pseudobulb was observed lifting a concrete stepping stone approximately 5cm (2.0in) above the mulch.[13]
The flower stalk may bear flowers for at least one month, and each individual flower is open for an average of 11 days (1.6 weeks).[13] It typically blooms from October to January,[4] and can have up to 60 flowers per flower stalk.[5][8] The flowers mature sequentially along the flower stalk with the youngest flower buds being at the top.[4]
Both the sepals and petals have dark purple veins running through them.[5] The flowers have a small but noticeable nectar spur,[5] and the petals are 9.6 to 10.9mm (0.38 to 0.43in) by 2.6 to 3.3mm (0.10 to 0.13in). The dorsal sepal is 10.5 to 14.3mm (0.41 to 0.56in) by 2 to 3mm (0.079 to 0.118in) and the lateral sepals are 11.2 to 15.5mm (0.44 to 0.61in) by 2.2 to 2.8mm (0.087 to 0.110in).[9] When flattened down to its full size, the tongue-like pink lip of the flower is 10.4 to 13.5mm (0.41 to 0.53in) by 7 to 8.4mm (0.28 to 0.33in).[9]
Fruit
The fruit is a dry, greenish-brown capsule that is 1.6 to 3.1cm (0.63 to 1.22in) long (excluding remnants of the pedicel and perianth) with a diameter of 0.7 to 1.2cm (0.28 to 0.47in).[4][9]
When hand-pollinating this orchid, a 100% success rate (in this sense, 10 out of 10) in fruit development was shown when outcrossing the flowers (pollination between two distinct specimens), compared to a 40% success rate (in this sense, 4 out of 10) when using the flowers' own pollen.[13]
The fruit dehisces once it is ripe and the seeds inside are ready to exit; observations showed that some flower stalks had fruits dehiscing while open flowers were still present.[13]
The seeds have a length of 74.5μm (0.0745mm; 0.00293in),[17] making them comparable to dust.[6][16] The seeds are airborne and wind-dispersed, allowing the orchid to spread quickly into new areas.[4][5]
Invasive status
In regions where Eulophia graminea is considered invasive, it typically forms dense monocultures.[5][7] It is considered invasive (more specifically, naturalized) in places such as Florida, where it frequently spreads through wood chip mulch.[4] Sightings have also occurred in Texas,[18][19]Puerto Rico, and the West Indies.[7] In Singapore, it is considered “a weed of uncertain origin”.[20]
One of the factors influencing this orchid’s rapid spread is the broad range of mycorrhizalfungi it can associate with; 10 out of the 18 fungal strains that Eulophia graminea seeds were tested on successfully initiated germination.[21]
There is a chance that climate change may influence the spread of Eulophia graminea and cause its habitable range to expand drastically; research implies that by the year 2100, Eulophia graminea will expand its range in America by 36% to 193% depending on climate change intensity.[22]
In Florida, it is classified as a Category II invasive species by UF/IFAS due to its rapid spread throughout the state.[4][23][24] The first reports of its presence in Florida were around 2006 to 2007, where it was discovered growing in mulch from Miami-Dade county.[8][13]
It is one of several widespread naturalized orchids in Florida, alongside species such as Oeceoclades maculata and Zeuxine strateumatica.[25] Its native range has colder temperatures than Florida, which implies the possibility of it spreading northward.[5]
When removing these orchids, UF/IFAS advises not to compost them, since they will simply regrow; instead, it is recommended to bag them and throw them into the trash.[6] It is advised to remove them before they flower.[6]
Gallery
The flower, upon closer inspection
Side view of the flower, showing its prominent spur
The developing flower stalk and prominent pseudobulb of a specimen near Gainesville, Florida
Here, the asparagus-like apex of the flower stalk can be seen
The leaves in greater detail; the yellow thread-like structures in the background are from Cassytha filiformis
Cultivated at the Northern Territory Herbarium, in Palmerston
The entire plant, as seen from a little farther away
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![Eulophia graminea at the Pa-hay-okee Trail [fr] in the Everglades National Park Eulophia graminea kz05.jpg](http://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fd/Eulophia_graminea_kz05.jpg/120px-Eulophia_graminea_kz05.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=parser&utm_content=thumbnail)
