Disperis anthoceros Rchb.

Kurzweil, Hubert & Manning, John C., 2005, A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), Adansonia (3) 27 (2), pp. 155-207 : 184-185

35. Disperis anthoceros Rchb. f.

Otia Bot. Hamburg. 2: 103 (1881); Schlechter, Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 1, 6: 951 (1898); Rolfe, Fl. Trop. Afr. 7: 292 (1898), Fl. Cap. 5, 3: 311 (1913); Summerhayes, Fl. W. Trop. Afr., ed. 2: 205 (1968); Verdcourt, Fl. Trop. East Afr.: 229 (1968), Kew Bull. 21: 99 (1968); Geerinck, Fl. Afr. Centr.: 230 (1984); la Croix F P. J. Cribb, Fl. Zambes.: 234 (1995); P. J. Cribb F Thomas, Fl. Ethiop. Eritr. 6: 247 (1997); Szlachetko F Olszewski, Fl. Camer. 34: 46 (1998); J. C. Manning in H. P. Linder F Kurzweil, Orch. S. Afr.: 303 (1999); la Croix et al., Adansonia 24: 58 (2002). — Type: Ethiopia, ex Tigre v. Begemder River, Schimper 1210 (syn-, W) F 1295 (syn-, W; isosyn-, BM, K). Disperis hamadryas Schltr., Ann. Transvaal Mus. 10 :

252 (1924). — Type: South Africa, KwaZulu-

Natal, Wood 841 (lecto-, K, designated by Linder F

Kurzweil 1999; isolecto-, NH, SAM).

Plants to 300 mm. Leaves 2, opposite, ovate, to 38 × 40 mm. Flowers to 4 (rarely to 7), white, petals marked with green or partly pale pink; median sepal with slender erect spur 7- 30 mm, lateral sepals obovate to semi-orbicular, 5-15 × 3-10 mm, united for about half; petals falcate, 6-7 × 4-5 mm; lip linear, ascending, 8- 15 mm long, blade minutely ligulate, appendage irregularly lobed, hanging over blade ( Figs 1B ; 6 D-F).

DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOLOGY. — The most widespread species of the genus, found throughout tropical Africa from Sudan and Ethiopia westwards to Nigeria and southwards to the northern provinces of South Africa, and recently also recorded in Madagascar; in leaf litter on the floor of evergreen forests, also in moss on rocks in deep shade, often along streams, also in bambooforests, Pinus and Cupressus plantations, or wet Brachystegia woodland, from 600 to 1800 m in southern Africa and from 1100 to 2700 m in tropical Africa. Flowering mainly in February and March.

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. 6. — Flowers and floral details in the “Anthoceros group”: A, Disperis aphylla Kraenzl. ex De Wild. & T.Durand, flower; B, C, D. virginalis Schltr.: B, flower in side view; C, lip; D-F, D. anthoceros Rchb.f.: D, flower in side view; E, lip and gynostemium; F, gynostemium; G, D. thomensis Summerh., petal; H, D. kerstenii Rchb.f., petal. Drawn from alcohol material: A, Schajes 2839A; B, C, Eyles 4477; D-F, Manning s.n.; G, Jaeger 1289; H, Eggeling 6634.