Disa longilabris Schltr.

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Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, Nyika National Park

Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, Nyika National Park

Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, Nyika National Park

Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, Nyika National Park

Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, Nyika National Park

Disa longilabris

Photo: Penny English
Road between Dembo bridge and the turn off to the north Rumphi bridge, 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: Herschelia longilabris (Schltr.) Rolfe
Herschelianthe longilabris (Schltr.) Rauschert
Common names:
Frequency: Local
Status: Native
Description:
Terrestrial herb 12–25 cm tall. Basal leaves numerous, grass-like, up to 30 cm long, produced after flowering. Leaves along the stem 5–7, closely sheathing. Inflorescence 5–10 cm long, 4–18 flowered. Bracts shorter than the flowers, ovate, dry. Flowers white to pale blue. Spur horizontal at the base, often somewhat down-turned, 3–4 mm long. Lateral sepals narrowly oblong-ovate, 6–9 mm long. Lip 8–10 mm long, lanceolate, deeply dissected.
Notes: This species is very similar to the more widespread Disa baurii. It differs in more numerous flowers in the inflorescence; smaller flowers which are often (nearly) white; spur being horizontal to somewhat down-turned.
Derivation of specific name: longilabris: with a long lip.
Habitat: Montane grassland
Altitude range: 2350 - 2500 m
Flowering time:Aug-Sep
Worldwide distribution: Southern Tanzania and northern Malawi.
Malawi distribution: N
Growth form(s):
Endemic status: Near Endemic
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Saturday 29 August 2020
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 321. (Includes a picture).

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 197. As Herschelianthe longilabris

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 127. as Herschelianthe longilabris (Includes a picture).

Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 89 - 90. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Disa longilabris:

External websites:

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


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: Disa longilabris.
https://www.malawiflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=220800, retrieved 29 March 2024

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