The genus Disperis (Orchidaceae) in Madagascar, the Comores, the Mascarenes and the Seychelles
Author
Croix, Isobyl la
Author
Bosser, Jean
Author
Cribb, Phillip J.
text
Adansonia
2002
3
24
1
55
87
journal article
http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5180356
1639-4798
5180356
13.
Disperis majungensis
Schltr.
Feddes Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 33: 108 (1925)
; H.
Perrier in Humbert
H
. (ed.)
,
Fl. Madag.
, 49
e
fam.,
Orchidées
1: 190 (1939)
;
Du Puy
et al.,
Orch. Madag.
: 135 (1999)
. —
Type
:
Perrier de la Bâthie
13038
,
Madagascar
,
Majunga
(holo-,
P
!, photo
K
!)
.
Slender terrestrial herb
10-13 cm
tall; tubers 16-20 ×
12 mm
, globose or ovoid. Leaves 2, sessile or with a short
2-3 mm
long petiole, alternate, borne at about the middle of the stem, 2-4.3 ×
1.2-2 cm
, ovate, acute, dark green above, red below. Inflorescence 1-3-flowered; bracts (5-)8-16 ×
6-8 mm
, leafy. Flowers violet; pedicel and ovary
14 mm
long. Dorsal sepal 6 ×
0.8 mm
, linear; lateral sepals free more or less to base, more or less
5 mm
long, deeply saccate, with an obtuse spur
1.5 mm
long. Petals 5.5-6 ×
2-3 mm
, more or less semicircular, adnate to the dorsal sepal and forming a shallow hood c.
5-6 mm
long,
4.5 mm
wide, with the dorsal sepal protruding slightly between the petals. Lip
4.5 mm
long over all, with a claw
3 mm
long, the basal
2 mm
fused to the column; appendage 3- lobed, like a trident, the side lobes erect,
1.5- 1.8 mm
long, conical with inrolled margins, like the fingers of a glove, densely shortly papillose-pubescent; mid-lobe triangular, obtuse,
2-2.3 mm
long, flat, often bent over to the front, densely shortly papillose-pubescent. Rostellum arms
3 mm
long, not enlarged at the tips. —
Fig. 6A.
DISTRIBUTION. —
Madagascar
; endemic. HABITAT. —
In
humus, in rocky wood on calcareous soil; sea level-
100 m
.
MATERIAL STUDIED. —
W
MADAGASCAR
:
Morat
4842
,
Antsingy of Antsalova
, Res. Nat. no. 9,
Jan. 1975
(
P
!);
Perrier de la Bâthie
13038
, near Majunga, not far from the sea,
Feb. 1920
(
P
)
.
This species is readily recognised by its very characteristic lip appendage. It is a rare species, collected only twice, the localities being very remote from each other.