Eulophia is a fascinating and highly varied genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, bringing together some of the most adaptable and characterful terrestrial orchids of the tropics and subtropics. Eulophia is an accepted genus of perennials, native across tropical and subtropical regions and currently lists 286 accepted species. In Africa, the genus is especially rich and diverse, occurring in habitats ranging from fynbos to semi-arid regions and coastal dunes to grasslands, swamps and tropical forests, with sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands forming a major centre of diversity. Many species grow from underground corms, tubers or pseudobulbs, producing pleated leaves and elegant flower spikes that may carry yellow, green, brown, cream, pink, purple or richly marked blooms. Some, such as Eulophia speciosa, are rewarding pot plants with bright yellow flowers, while others, such as Eulophia horsfallii, can become magnificent, tall-growing garden or container specimens with large purple flowers.

Eulophia zeyheri is a South African indigenous species from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces. It is synonymously known as Orthochilus welwitschii, Eulophia bicolor and Eulophia woodii. It grows to 90 cm tall in grassland. This summer rainfall plant has stiff erect pleated leaves. During summer it bears a dense inflorescence of large yellow flowers with reddish purple colour in centre. The seeds of this species are best sown in spring.