Disperis ciliata Bosser, Adansonia, III, 24: 64 (2002).
Description:
A terrestrial herb, 15-20 cm tall. Stem slender glabrous. Leaves 2, opposite, inserted shortly above the middle of the stem, lanceolate, acute, rounded at the base and retracted into a short petiole, 2-4.5 × 0.8-2 cm. Inflorescence 2-5-flowered; bracts ovate, acute, those at the base largest, leafy, up to 8 × 5 mm. Flowers rose-coloured; pedicel and ovary 7-10 mm long. Dorsal sepal narrowly lanceolate to linear, acute, 7 × 1.5 mm, glabrous, with a median nerve and two fine lateral ones. Lateral sepals obliquely and broadly ovate, obtuse, connate at the base for about 2.5 mm, lacking a spur or gibbosity, 7.5 × 5.5 mm. Petals broadly and obliquely ovate, 6-6.5 × 4.5 mm, rounded at the tips, with the margins and apical part longly ciliate, adnate to the dorsal sepal to form a very concave hood of 6 × 6 mm. Lip 3-3.5 mm long; basal part linear, attached to the column for 1.7-1.9 mm; terminal part enlarged into a trilobed appendix, the lateral lobes linear, curved, involute on the margins, dilated-claviform at the apex, more or less 2 mm long; mid-lobe triangular, of the same length or a little longer than the side lobes, the upper face of the 3 lobes densely covered with a short Papillose pubescence. Rostellar arms 1.7-1.8 mm long, slightly curved and spathulate at the apex.
Habitat:
Under trees in humid montane forest on laterite of gneiss, transition to lichenrich forest; 1700-1900 m.
Notes:
Because of its habit and the general appearance of its flowers, this species recalls Disperis latigaleata. It can be readily distinguished, however, by its ciliate petals and by the terminal appendage of its lip in which the midlobe is relatively short and covered by a short papillate pubescence while in Disperis latigaleata that lobe is lengthened into a linear glabrous extention which is slightly dilated at the tip. The lip appendage also resembles that of some forms of Disperis oppositifolia, but the flower is glabrous, with the lateral sepals more extensively connate and contracted at the narrow base.
Distribution:
Madagascar; endemic.
