Disperis discifera H.Perrier, Notul. Syst. (Paris) 5: 222 (1936).
Descriptions:
Plants 10-20 cm tall, stem bearing above the center 3-4 alternate, oval-lanceolate, subacute apically, rounded basally leaves. Inflorescence 4-12 flowered, flowers purple, very large. Hood wider (15 mm) than tall (10 mm), median sepal narrow and 3 veined, petals widely semi-oval-obtuse, very dilates on their front margin. Lateral sepals semi-obovate, obtuse, 3 veined, shortly joined basally, attenuate from the center to the base, margins dilate and furrowed medially with a pit in the shape of a very deep finger. Labellum thick and linear in the part joined to the column, provided with a small curved-falcate lobe at the point of detachment with the column, then enlarged and thinner, bearing apically a small appendage (reflexed), discoidal, widely oval or sub orbicular (2.8-3 x 1.5-2 mm), glabrous below, hairy above, and provided apically with a deltoid apicule, obtuse and glabrous. Anther 3 mm long; cauda rigid, 2 mm long, viscidiums very small and flat (0.3 mm) Rostellum very large (3.5-4 x 4-6 mm), arms hyaline, linear, 2 mm long and truncate apically.
Habitat:
In dense forest (mossy forest or ericoid bushes) from 1200-2000 m alt.
Phenology:
Flowering in January-April.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, warm to cool growing epiphyte.
Distribution:
Madagascar, Réunion
References:
The genus Disperis (Orchidaceae) in Madagascar, the Comores, the Mascarenes and the Seychelles, ADANSONIA, sér. 3-2002 -24 (1) : 55-87; Flora of Madagascar Perrier 1939/81; Orchids of Madagascar Hermans 2007; Field Guide to the Orchids of Madagascar Cribb & Herman 2009; A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), ADANSONIA, sér. 3 - 2005 - 27 (2) : 155-207
Images:
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| In culture |
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| Photograph© Olaf Pronk. Image used with kind permission. |
