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Disperis virginalis Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 24: 431 (1897).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Disperis nelsonii Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 311 (1913).
Description:
Slender terrestrial herb 8–25 cm tall.Leaves 2, ± opposite, 2–7.5 × 1.5–4.5 cm, ovate, with petiole c. 3 mm long.Inflorescence 1–3-flowered; flowers pale to deep pink or white, with purple dots within.Ovary 12–20 mm long; bracts leaf-like, of similar length.Dorsal sepal 10–13 mm long, linear, concave, joined with the petals to form an open hood.Lateral sepals joined near the base, 8–10 × 4–4.5 mm, obliquely obovate-oblong, subacute or apiculate, each with a slender, acute sac-like spur 1.5–2.5 mm long directed toward the sepal apex.Petals projecting beyond the dorsal sepal, 11–14 mm long, obliquely rhomboid-falcate, acute, with a rounded lobe on the lower half of the free margin.Lip erect; claw c. 6 mm long, unguiculate; limb minute, reflexed; appendage about 4 times as long as the limb, recurved, dilated into 4 spreading lobes or 2-lobed at the apex and the lobes shortly 2-lobed.Limb and appendage densely papillose-hairy on the inside.Rostellum broadly ovate-orbicular, shortlybifid with reflexed margin; arms 2–3 mm long.
Habitat:
In leaf litter in gallery forest and in wattle and pine plantations, also reported on moss-covered rocks under Podocarpus at 1500-2500 m.
Phenology:
Flowering in February and March.
Notes:
Similar to Disperis dicerochila Summerh. but differing in having limb and appendages of lip papillose hairy.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
E. Zimbabwe to Limpopo
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; Flora Zambesiaca Vol 11 Part 1 Pope 1995 ; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008 photos fide; Terrestrial African Orchids, A select Review John S. Ball 2009
Images:
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Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.	Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission.