Disperis stenoplectron Rchb.

Kurzweil, Hubert & Manning, John C., 2005, A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), Adansonia (3) 27 (2), pp. 155-207 : 200

68. Disperis stenoplectron Rchb. f.

Otia Bot. Hamburg. 2: 102 (1881); Schlechter,

Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 1, 6: 921 (1898); Rolfe, Fl.

Cap. 5, 3: 295 (1913); J.C. Manning in H.P. Linder

F Kurzweil, Orch. S. Afr.: 316 (1999). — Type:

South Africa, Ecklon & Zeyher 86 (holo-, W).

Disperis anomala Schltr., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 26: 333 (1899); Rolfe, Fl. Cap. 5, 3: 298 (1913). — Type: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Wood 6078 (holo-, NH).

Disperis natalensis Rolfe, Fl. Cap. 5, 3: 297 (1913). — Type: South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal, Fannin 91 (lecto-, NH).

Plants to 230 mm. Leaves 3-4, alternate, lanceolate to ovate, 20-35 × 8-12 mm. Flowers 5-8, in secund racemes, pink and cream; median sepal broadly elliptic, hooded, mostly 8 × 7 mm, lateral sepals obovate, 7-12 × 4-5 mm; petals oblongovate, clawed, 5-6 × 3-4 mm; lip blade horizontal, elliptic, triangular, appendage horizontally reflexed, linear ( Figs 1G ; 13D ).

DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOLOGY. — South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga) and Lesotho; in montane and subalpine grassland, frequently on slopes from 1200 to 2850 m. Flowering from January to April .

Figures

FIG. 1. — Plants, inflorescences and flowers of Disperis species: A, D. dicerochila Summerh.; B, D. anthoceros Rchb.f.; C, D. cardiophora Harv.; D, D. capensis (L.f.) Sw.; E, D. villosa (L.f.) Sw.; F, D. circumflexa (L.) T.Durand & Schinz subsp. circumflexa; G, D. stenoplectron Rchb.f.; H, D. paludosa Harv. ex Lindl. Photos: A, C, H. Kurzweil; B, D-G, J.C. Manning; H, H. Boernitz.

FIG. 13. — Flowers and floral details in the “Wealei group”: A, B, Disperis paludosa Harv. ex Lindl.: A, flower; B, lip; C, D. circumflexa (L.) T.Durand & Schinz subsp. circumflexa, flower; D, D. stenoplectron Rchb.f., lip and gynostemium; E, F, D. concinna Schltr.: E, flower; F, lip; G, D. fanniniae Harv., lip; H, D. wealei Rchb.f., gynostemium. Drawn from alcohol material (sources unknown).