Disperis parvifolia

Summerhayes, V. B., 1968, Orchidaceae (Part 1) part., Flora of Tropical East Africa 1 (1) : 226

10. D. parvifolia Schltr .

in E.J. 53: 547 (1915) & in F.R. Beih. 68, t, 44/174 (1932); Summerh. in F.W.T.A., ed. 2, 2: 203 (1968). Type: Tanganyika, Rungwe District, Kyimbila, Stolz 1125 (B, holo. t, K,? iso.!, see note)

Herb, 4-5-11 cm. tall, arising from a globose hairy tuber i 7 mm. in diameter. Leaves 2, alternate, much reduced, scarcely more than scale leaves, sheathing at the base, ovate, rounded or elliptic, 2-9 mm. long, 2- 5 mm. wide, rounded to shortly acuminate at the apex, rounded into the sheath at the base. Flowers solitary, yellowish (fide Stolz) but probably pink in W. Africa; bract leaf-like, 6 mm. long, 2-5 mm. wide, shortly acuminate. Intermediate sepal forming a slightly curved conical spur, 6-5 mm. long, to the mouth of which the petals are joined; lateral sepals obliquely elliptic or rhomboid, 2-S-4-5 mm. long, 1-3-2-2 mm. wide, free, bearing small very obtuse sacs. Petals obliquely oblong or somewhat B- shaped, 3-5-4 mm. long, 2 mm. wide. Lip ± 4-4-5 mm. long (including appendage), situated in the spur, the narrow basal claw' with a short reflexed linear limb 0-6 mm. long and bearing at the point of reflection a linear appendage 1-5 mm. long, enlarged at the apex like the condyle of a bone, hairy at extreme tip. Fig. 39/10, p. 220.

Tanganyika. Rungwe District: Kyimbila, Feb. 1912, Stolz 1125 (see note)

Distr. T7; Cameroun Republic

Hab. Upland grassland; 1500-1600 m.

Note. A specimen at Kew, Stolz K50!, is probably a duplicate of Stolz 1125 and thus an isotype.