Orchidaceae
Disa

Disa praecox (H.P.Linder) H.P.Linder

First published in H.P.Linder & H.Kurzweil, Orchids S. Africa: 470 (1999)
This species is accepted
The native range of this species is S. Tropical Africa (Nyika Plateau). It is a tuberous geophyte and grows primarily in the subtropical biome.

Descriptions

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: threatened. Confidence: confident
[AERP]

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

Morphology General Habit
Terrestrial herb 20–40 cm tall.
Morphology Leaves
Basal leaves c. 6, produced after flowering, c. 30 cm long and 1–2 mm wide, semi-erect, subsclerophyllous. Cauline leaves few, completely sheathing, 2–3 cm long, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence laxly 2–10-flowered, 4–13 cm long.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts
Bracts dry, c. 1 cm long, ovate, acuminate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers white to blue or dark-mauve, occasionally the apices of the petals green.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Spur
Spur 3–5 mm long and c. 2 mm in diameter, terete, cylindrical or laterally flattened, horizontal or gradually ascending.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Lateral sepals patent, 10–12 mm long, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, subacuminate. Dorsal sepal galeate; galea erect, 10–12 mm tall, c. 8 mm wide and 4–6 mm deep, acuminate, with an erect to reflexed apex.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Petals with an ovate basal anticous lobe c. 2 mm wide; petal limb c. 12 × 1.5–2 mm, lorate in the lower part and curving up beside the anther within the galea, widened and unequally acutely 2-lobed at the apex with the anterior lobe longer than the posterior lobe.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Labellum
Lip 11–13 mm long, narrowly ovate to lanceolate, curved upwards, margins almost entire to shallowly fimbriate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers
Anther horizontal, c. 3 mm long, the connective longer than the anther.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Rostellum
Rostellum with erect canaliculate lateral lobes 1.5 mm tall.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Stigma
Stigma subsessile, somewhat angled forwards.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 1–1.5 cm long, usually curved.
[FZ]

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

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 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 2024. 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 2024. 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