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Disperis stenoplectron Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 102 (1881).
Heterotypic Synonyms:
Disperis anomala Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26: 333 (1899).
Disperis natalensis Rolfe in W.H.Harvey & auct. suc. (eds.), Fl. Cap. 5(3): 297 (1913).
Description:
Plant 3/4–1 ft. high; stem moderately stout; leaves cauline, alternate, sessile, 2–4, suberect, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, subacute, 1–2 in. long; scapes 3/4–1 ft. high; spikes 2–4 in. long, lax, 6–10-flowered; bracts ovate-lanceolate, cucullate, acute or acuminate, 1/2–1 in. long; pedicels 4–6 lin. long; flowers medium-sized, green and purple; dorsal sepal galeate, broadly ovate, apiculate, about 5 lin. long; lateral sepals spreading, 4 1/2 lin. long, obliquely elliptic-oblanceolate from a narrow base, abruptly acuminate, with a conic-oblong sac below the middle; petals cohering with the dorsal sepal, obliquely falcate-oblong, somewhat constricted in front about the middle, about 5 lin. long; lip broadly unguiculate; limb pandurate-oblong, subacute and incurved at the apex, with involute margin, and a conical tooth underneath above the middle; disc papillose; appendage erect, subulate-linear, obtuse, rather longer than the limb; column short; rostellum broadly and transversely oblong, obscurely tridentate at the apex; arms cartilaginous, spreading, nearly straight, spathulate at the apex, 2 lin. long.
Habitat:
In montane and subalpine grassland, frequently on slopes from 1200 to 2850 m.
Phenology:
Flowering from January to April.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus.
Distribution:
South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga) and Lesotho.
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; A molecular phylogeny for the large African orchid genus Disa Bytebier 2006; Field Guide to the Orchids of Northern South Africa and Swaziland McMurty, Grobler, Grobler & Burns 2008, Flora Capensis, Vol 5, Part 3, page 3, (1913)
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.