Key to the subgenera of the genus Disa
The subgenera are based largely on gynostemium and petal characters, not for any theoretical reason but mainly because these two structures are mostly correlated. Phytogeographically and ecologically the subgenera also seem to form fairly homogeneous entities. The subgenera may be distinguished as follows:
| 1. | Anther erect; sterile shoots produced; petals mostly bilobed; spur mostly pendent from the base | subgen.Micranthe |
| 1a | Anther horizontal or pendent; sterile shoots occasionally produced; petals entire; spur variable | |
| 2. | Petals reflexed parallel to the anther; spur often obsolete; sterile shoots never produced; rostellum with the lateral lobes horn-like and the central lobe extended in a V shaped between the anther cells | subgen. Disa |
| 2a | Petals more or less erect next to the rostellum, or falcate with a basal anticous lobe flanking the stigma | |
| 3 | Petals mostly falcate with a large basal anticous lobe flanking the stigma, if not falcate, then the spur is massive, almost as deep as the dorsal sepal is tall; sterile shoots rarely produced; anther horizontal; lateral rostellum lobes canaliculate or fused extensively to the petals | subgen. Falcipetalum |
| 3a | Petals erect, usually lorate or oblong, basal anticous lobe small or insignificant; spur slender; petals free from rostellum lobes. | |
| 4 | Rostellum lateral lobes horn-like, canaliculate, viscidia globular; spur often subclavate; sterile shoots often produced; spur often apparently ascending | subgen. Hircicornu |
| 4a | Rostellum lateral lobes square, flat or shallowly concave; viscidia usually flat spur usually tapering; sterile shoots never produced; spur usually horizontal | subgen. Stenocarpa |
