Disa purpurascens
| Disa purpurascens | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Genus: | Disa |
| Species: | D. purpurascens
|
| Binomial name | |
| Disa purpurascens | |
| Synonyms | |
Disa purpurascens is a species of orchid found in South Africa (SW. Cape Prov.). It is also known as the early blue disa or the bloumoederkappie.
Description
[edit]Plants are 200–250 mm (7.9–9.8 in) tall, growing from a tuber with a length of about 30 mm (1.2 in) and a diameter of about 10 mm (0.39 in). About 10 narrow, rigid leaves, about half as tall as the plant, grow from a basal rosette. The base of the plant is often surrounded by a sheath of old leaf fibers.[1]
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This species flowers in October and November, producing an inflorescence of 1–7 sweetly scented flowers. Each flower has a blue hood and side wings, with a dark purple lip below. Yellow-green petals are found at the back of the hood.[2] While the flowers look similar to those of Disa graminifolia, they differ in having an upcurved lip margin and a conical spur. They also flower at different times of the year.[3]
While there is generally very little variation between plants, some white flowers have been observed. This has been suggested to be a recessive condition.[1]
Distribution
[edit]This species has a fairly narrow distribution, growing in coastal regions between Cape Hangklip and Cape Agulhas. It is not thought to occur above 100 m (330 ft) above sea level.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Linder, H. P. (1981-11-10). "Taxonomic studies in the Disinae. VI. A revision of the genus Herschelia". Bothalia. 13 (3/4): 365–388. doi:10.4102/abc.v13i3/4.1325. ISSN 2311-9284.
- ^ Clarke, Hugh G. (2019). Wild flowers of the Cape Peninsula. Corinne Merry (3rd expanded ed.). Cape Town. ISBN 978-1-77584-640-6. OCLC 1124073483.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Manning, John (2012). Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region : 1: the core Cape flora. Peter Goldblatt, G. D. Duncan. Pretoria: South African National Biodiversity Institute, SANBI. ISBN 978-1-919976-74-7. OCLC 852384288.
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