Disperis macowanii Bolus, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 22: 77 (1885).
Description:
Small terrestrial herb 7–15 cm tall, the stem sparsely hairy. Leaves 2, alternate, 14–16 × 6–10 mm, ovate, cordate. Inflorescence 1–2-flowered. Flowers white to cream with green and purple spotting on the petals. Ovary 8–10 mm long, bright green; bracts leaf-like, of similar length. Dorsal sepal joined to petals to form blunt, conical hood 5–6 mm high. Lateral sepals free, projecting forwards or deflexed, 4–5 × 2 mm, obliquely ovate, acute; spur 1.5–2 mm long, conical, pointing forwards and almost reaching end of the sepal. Petals 6 mm long, falcate, obscurely lobed towards base on outer margin. Lip with claw 2.5 mm long widening into an elliptic dilation 1 mm wide before narrowing into an apical part 1 mm long; appendage 5–5.5 × 1 mm, linear, slightly curved, obtusely folded longitudinally, minutely crenulate on margins, the apex papillate and slightly 2-lobed with a tooth on each side and thus appearing 4-lobed.
Habitat:
In rich organic matter on rocky slopes like stream banks and on cliffs, in shaded and damp places, frequently associated with moss or lichens, amongst shrubs, also in montane grassland from 1500 to 2500 m.
Phenology:
The species flowers from December to April in the South African summer-rainfall region and in tropical Africa, and from July to August in the South African winter-rainfall region.
Notes:
Disperis macowaniiis one of the few species in the genus that are known from both tropical and South Africa, where it occurs in both the winter- and summer-rainfall regions.
Cultivation:
As given for the genus, cool to cold growing terrestrial.
Distribution:
Tanzania to S. Africa
References:
A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), ADANSONIA, sér. 3 - 2005 - 27 (2) : 155-207; Flora of Tropical East Africa Orchidaceae Part 1 Summerhayes 1968; Flora Zambesiaca Vol. 11 Orchidaceae Part 1 Poep 1995; The Cape Orchids Vol 2 Liltved & Johnson 2012
Images:
Click on each image to see a larger version.
| Habitat/In situ | Habitat/In situ |
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| Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
Photograph© Lourens Grobler. Image used with kind permission. |
