Disperis capensis

Kurzweil, Hubert & Manning, John C., 2005, A synopsis of the genus Disperis Sw. (Orchidaceae), Adansonia (3) 27 (2), pp. 155-207 : 194

57. Disperis capensis (L.f.) Sw.

Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21: 220 (1800);

Schlechter, Bull. Herb. Boissier, ser. 1, 6: 915 (1898);

Rolfe, Fl. Cap. 5, 3: 302 (1913); J.C. Manning in

H.P. Linder F Kurzweil, Orch. S. Afr.: 313 (1999).

— Arethusa capensis L.f., Suppl. Pl.: 405 (1781). —

Dipera capensis (L.f.) Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 696

(1826), nom. illegit. — Type: South Africa, Cape of

Good Hope, herb. Burman s.n. (lecto-, BM).

Dipera tenera Spreng., Syst. Veg. 3: 696 (1826), nom. superfl. — Disperis capensis (L.f.) Sw. var. tenera (Spreng.) Sond., Linnaea 19: 112 (1847), nom. illegit. — Disperis tenera (Spreng.) Bolus, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 19: 346 (1882), nom. illegit. — Type: South Africa, Berger s.n. (loc. incert.).

Disperis graminifolia Banks ex Steud., Nomencl. Bot. , ed. 2, 1: 520 (1840). — Type unknown.

Plants 70-650 mm, hirsute. Leaves 2, alternate, lanceolate, 10-90 × 2.5-11 mm. Flowers solitary (r a re l y 2), w i t h b row n i s h g re e n s e p a l s a n d magenta (rarely cream) petals, sepals with caudae 9-20 mm long; median sepal ovate, hooded, 9- 11 × 3-5 mm, lateral sepals lanceolate, spreading near base and recurved above, 13-45 × 3-4 mm; petals oblong, 8-15 × 4-10 mm; lip blade triangular; appendage triangular (absent in var. brevicaudata ) ( Figs 1D ; 11 ).

DISTRIBUTION AND PHENOLOGY. — South Africa ( Western and Eastern Cape); in damp sandy soils in fynbos and Restio -veld, often in seepages from 10 to 1100 m. Flowering mainly from July to September .

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. 11. — Flower and floral details in Disperis capensis (L.f.) Sw. (“Capensis group”): A, B, flower; C, D, lip and gynostemium. Drawn from alcohol material (source unknown).