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; Bolus
Synonyms
	Herschelia purpurascens (Bolus) Kraenzl.; Herschelianthe purpurascens (Bolus) Rauschert;

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

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]

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

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

^ ^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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[:0-1] 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.

[2] 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)

[3] 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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