Disperis aphylla Kraenzl.
subsp. bifolia Verdc.

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Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

Photo: Bart Wursten
Main road from Thazima Gate, Nyika National Park

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency: Local
Status: Native
Description:
Terrestrial herb 6–16 cm tall, the stem greenish-white with purple streaks; tubers ovoid or globose, 10–20 mm long. Leaves 2, (sub)opposite, ovate, 2–3 cm long, purple beneath; margins undulate. Inflorescence 1–5-flowered; flowers white or pale lilac-pink, the sepals darker towards the base; bracts leaf-like, 9–13 mm long. Dorsal sepal 9–10.5 mm long from apex to top of spur and 5–6 mm long from top of spur to apex of ovary, adnate to petals to form a spur 3–4 mm long. Lateral sepals free, obliquely ovate, 7–9 mm long, slightly curved, each with a sac-like spur c. 1.5 mm long. Petals triangular, c. 7 mm long. Lip with a linear claw 2–4.5 mm long, reflexed near the apex; limb bearing 2 linear, 2-lobed, papillate appendages c. 2 mm long.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: aphylla: without leaves, referring to the absence of leaves in the nominate subspecies;
bifolia: 2-leaved, referring to the presence of 2 leaves in this subspecies.
Habitat: In leaf litter in deep shade of evergreen forest
Altitude range: 1900 - 2000 m
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution: Tanzania and the Nyika Plateau in Malawi and Zambia.
Malawi distribution: N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Tuesday 26 March 2019
Literature:

Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 322. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 234 - 236. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 154. (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119.

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Page 102. as subsp. aphylla (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia:

Our websites:

Flora of Zambia: Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Disperis aphylla
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Disperis aphylla
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Disperis aphylla
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Disperis aphylla
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Disperis aphylla
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Disperis aphylla
JSTOR Plant Science: Disperis aphylla
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Disperis aphylla
Plants of the World Online: Disperis aphylla
Tropicos: Disperis aphylla
Wikipedia: Disperis aphylla


Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2014-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Malawi: Species information: Disperis aphylla subsp. bifolia.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=209600, retrieved 28 March 2024

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