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Disperis cardiophora Harv., Thes. Cap. 2: 4 (1863).
Description:
Plants 110-260 mm; leaf 1, basal, subrotund, margins pellucid, 10-17 x 8-19 mm. Inflorescences secund, (2-) 6-20-flowered; bracts rotund, margins pellucid, 3-10 x 4-13 mm. Flowers greenish-white to pink, tips of sepals and petals magenta, petals spotted with pink within; ovary ovoid, twisted, 3.5-7 mm long; scent spicy. Median sepal with a slightly decurved sac-like spur 1-1.5 mm long, 3-4 x 3-4 mm; lateral sepals ovate, acute, sparsely pubescent at the base, 4-5 x 2.5-3 mm, spurs 1-1.5 mm long. Petals adnate to the median sepal, oblong-subacute, 4 x 2-3 mm. Lip basally fused to the gynostemium; claw linear, 4 mm long; blade triangular-ovate, 1.75 mm long; appendage triangular, acute, apex pubescent, 0.75 mm long. Anther reflexed; stigma dorsal; rostellum arms suberect, twisted, 1.75 mm long
Habitat:
In montane or subalpine grassland, in seepage areas and near water courses at 500-2500 m.
Phenology:
Flowering mainly from December to February.
Notes:
Disperis cardiophora and Disperis renibractea are closely related and characterized by the single leaf near the stem base, secund inflorescence and reniform bracts with pellucid margins. In Disperis cardiophora the flowers are smaller and the petals are orientated so as to obscure their inside when the flower is viewed from the front. The species is pollinated by the oil-collecting bee Rediviva neliana (Steiner 1989).
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga).
References:
A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), ADANSONIA, sér. 3 - 2005 - 27 (2) : 155-207; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008; Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 3, page 3, (1913) Author: (By R. A. ROLFE.)
Images:
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Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Cameron McMaster. Image used with kind permission.