Orchidaceae
Disa

Disa equestris Rchb.f.

First published in Flora 48: 181 (1865)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is Tropical Africa. It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the seasonally dry tropical biome.

Descriptions

Orchidaceae, I. la Croix and P.J. Cribb. Flora Zambesiaca 11:1. 1995

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb perennating by testicular tubers. Plants erect, 35–60 cm tall.
Morphology Leaves
Cauline leaves imbricate, grading into the floral bracts, sheathing at the base; free blades up to 15 cm long, lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, acute to acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence lax, 8–20 cm long, 10–40-flowered.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Floral bracts green to somewhat papery, ovate, acute to subacuminate, variable in length but usually shorter than the ovaries.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers violet to purple, rarely the lip or the flowers whitish.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Dorsal sepal rotund, apiculate; galea 6–8 mm long, 5–8(10) mm wide and 3–4(6) mm deep. Lateral sepals 6–8 mm long, oblong, rarely ovate to obovate, rounded, apiculi blunt.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur straight with the apex often upcurved, 6–8 mm long, subconic or cylindric to usually somewhat laterally compressed, apex subclavate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals 4.5 × c. 1.5 mm, falcate, truncate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 4.5–6 mm long, oblong, rounded, upper surface convex and papillate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum attached to the petal by a keel.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther c. 3 mm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma almost horizontal and square.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary (8)10–13(15) mm long.
[FZ]

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation
Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

Orchidaceae, V. S. Summerhayes. Flora of West Tropical Africa 3:1. 1968

Morphology General Habit
A slender terrestrial herb 1-2 ft. high
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
A rather lax inflorescence of small purple flowers.
[FWTA]

Sources

  • Angiosperm Extinction Risk Predictions v1

    • Angiosperm Threat Predictions
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of West Tropical Africa

    • Flora of West Tropical Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.
    • Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0