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Disperis natascha-oppeltiae Eb.Fisch., Killmann, Delep. & J.-P.Lebel, Orchidee (Hamburg) 63: 277 (2012).
Description:
Terrestrial orchid up to 13 cm tall, with subterranean ovate tubers. Leaves 2, opposite, cuneate to truncate at base, acuminate at apex, unequal, one leaf larger, up to 5 cm long and 1.5-1.8 cm wide, the other 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Inflorescence erect, with 3-4 flowers, bracts with undulate margin, cordate at base, acuminate at apex, 0.65 x 0.29 cm. Flowers white, up to 1.5 cm long, spur greenish, joined sepals and petals with green stripes inside. Dorsal sepal joined with petals, forming a horizontal spur, slightly emarginate at apex, spur 0.4-0.5 cm long and 0.2-0.3 cm in diameter. Lateral sepals ovate, 0.49 x 0.32 cm, joined for about 0.25-0.3 cm, with short, sac-like spur up to 0.065 cm long. Petals 0.27 x 0.19 cm. Lip claw linear, ribbon-like and twisted, up to 0.04 cm wide and 0.4 cm long, extending into spur and ending 0.16 cm before end of spur, apex bent over, up to 0.1-0.17 cm long, irregularly lobed, yellow, with numerous fimbriae up to 0.05-0.06 cm long. Column up to 0.25 cm long. Ovary usually curved at apex in an angle of 90°, thus arranged almost parallel to the horizontal spur, 0.9-1 cm long.
Etymology:
This species is dedicated to Prof Natascha OPPELT by Mr John David ASQUITH, who has taken a patronage for this newly discovered orchid within the organisation BIOPAT.
Habitat:
Understorey of rainforest in leaf-litter, 1835 m
Phenology:
Flowering from december.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Notes:
Disperis natascha-oppeltae belongs to the Disperis anthoceros-group within subgenus Dryorkis (KURZWEIL & MANNING 2005). It differs from Disperis reklieberae in the shorter and broader spur, the shorter lip claw, and the shape of the lip appendage with longer fimbriae.
Distribution:
In Nyungwe National Park in Cyamudongo Forest
References:
Disperis natascha-oppeltae, a new species from Nyungwe National Park, Rwanda, Die Orchidee 63(4), 2012
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
Photograph© João Farminhão/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© João Farminhão/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© João Farminhão/ Missouri Botanical Garden. Image used with kind permission.