Disperis aphylla subsp. aphylla

Summerhayes, V. B., 1968, Orchidaceae (Part 1) part., Flora of Tropical East Africa 1 (1) : 227

subsp. aphylla ; Tweedie in Journ. E.A. Nat. Hist. Soo. 24: 12 (1964)

Stems leafless (save for basal scale leaves) or bearing only 1 leaf. Fig. 39/12, p. 220.

Uganda. Bunyoro [" Unyoro June 1907, E. Brown 390!; Toro District: near R. Dura [Durro], Karamule, June 1906, Bagshawe 1038!

Kenya. N. Kavirondo District: Kakamega Forest, June 1944, Mainwaring in Tweedie 631! & May 1944, Carroll H37!; Kwale District: Shimba Hills, Makadara, July 1939, C. G. van Someren Sh 8!

Diste. 02; K5, 7; Cameroun and Congo Republics, Angola Hab. Leaf-litter in dense evergreen forest; 360-1530 m.

Note. A photograph at Kew taken by E. W. Carroll of this species growing in Kakamega Forest bears the note " with up to about 6 flowers in a raceme ", Further material of this plant is much needed from throughout its range and particularly from the type locality. There is considerable variation in the length of the claw and shape of the appendages. Kenya material has the claw almost twice as long as in the type but there seems to be little other difference.