Home

Disperis villosa (L.f.) Sw., Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 220 (1800).
Homotypic Synonyms:
Arethusa villosa L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 405 (1782).
Dipera villosa (L.f.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 696 (1826).
Description:
A slender herb, 7-20 cm. high; stem straight or subflexuous, villose, with one sheath at the base and two foliage leaves below the middle, 1-2 fl. or very rarely 3 fl. at the apex; leaves erectspreading distant, or more rarely subapproximate, the lower petiolate, the upper amplexicaul, subcordate-ovate or the upper lanceolate-ovate, acute or obtuse, glabrescent villose-ciliolate, 1-1,5 cm. long; bracts like the leaves, erect, somewhat sheathing the ovary, pubescent on the lower surface, the lower ones exceeding the villose ovary, the upper ones equalling it in length; lateral sepals spreading-ascending oblong-obovate, 0,7-0 ,8 cm. long, with a conical obtuse sac, 0,3 cm. long, below the apex; odd sepal galeate, the galea almost horizontal depressed oblong, rounded at the back, obtuse or subacute at the apex, pubescent without, 0-6-0-8 cm. long; petals adhering to the galea, adnate to the column, clawed subfalcate, lobed on the anterior margin, 0-6-0,8 cm. long; lip erect, then incumbent over the rostellum, linear, 0,7 cm. long, the appendix navicular, the margins inflexed, connate at base and forming a sac, acute, 0,4 cm. long; rostellum concave, the gland-bearing arms projecting forward approximate, spirally twisted.
Habitat:
In sandy or clay soil in low fynbosor Restio-veld, also recorded from road verges, near sea level to 210 m.
Phenology:
Flowering mainly in August and September.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
SW. & S. Cape Prov.
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; Orchids of Southern Africa by H. P. Linder; H. Kurzweil Published by A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam (1999)
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.

Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ	Habitat/In situ
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.