Disperis perrieri Schltr., Ann. Inst. Bot.-Géol. Colon. Marseille, III, 1: 160 (1913).
Description:
Slender terrestrial herb 12-30 cm tall. Tubers 3-4, small, ovoid, oblong or linear. Leaves 2-4, alternate, rather irregularly spaced, 2.8-5 × 0.9- 1.2 cm, lanceolate, acute, clasping the stem at base, decreasing in size towards top of stem. Inflorescence 1-2-flowered; bracts lanceolate, acute, up to 8 mm long. Ovary and pedicel up to 10 mm long. Dorsal sepal 10 × 1 mm, linear; lateral sepals 8.5-10 × 3.5-4 mm, semi-ovate, free almost to base, each with a small, sac-like spur around the middle. Petals 12 × 6 mm, narrowing abruptly at base, longer than the dorsal sepal with which they form an open, obcordate hood 12- 15 mm tall, 16-20 mm wide above the middle but only about 2 mm wide at the base. Lip glabrous, 4.5 mm long, adnate to the column for 2 mm at the base and edged there with a crenate membrane; free part narrow at first then gradually enlarging to form a wide V, branches of the V elongate, c. 2 mm long, rounded at the tips, a little hooked, this V prolonged by a linear onenerved stipe, 3 mm long, 0.2-0.3 mm wide, bearing a terminal fleshy reniform appendage, 2- 3 mm long, concave obove and bearing a small papillose lobe in the middle. Rostellum arms short, c. 1 mm long.
Habitat:
In humus and amongst lichens in damp woodland on gneiss; 1000-2250 m.
Notes:
This is a rare species that has only been collected twice in the NW of the island. Following the notes of Perrier De La Bâthie and Humbert, the stems are reddish, the leaves are dull green above with a paler median nerve and the under side is red. The lateral sepals are mauve or rose-coloured and the petals are rose-flushed or mauve on the back, paler on the inner surface. The hood is green on the back with three keels in relief, within on the inner face are a series of olive or brownish radiating lines.
Distribution:
N. Madagascar
