493 S.AfLl. Bot. , 1990, 56(4): 493-496 Taxonomic notes on Disperis (Orchidaceae) in South Africa J.C. Manning National Botanic Gardens, Private Bag Xl, Claremont, 7735 Republic of South Africa Accepted 4 April 1990 Under the conditions of priority of publication, the species of Disperis (Orchidaceae) hitherto known as D. bolusiana Schltr. is correctly cited as D. bolusiana Schltr. ex Bolus, and the circumstances leading to this decision are explained. The following changes to the status of three species of Disperis are made: D. stenoglossa Schltr. is placed in synonymy under D. woodii Bolus; D. macrocorys Rolfe is reduced to a subspecies of D. bolusiana Schltr. ex Bolus; and D. circumflexa (L.) Our. & Schinz var. aemula Schltr. is raised to subspecific status. Volgens die prioriteit van publikasie moet die spesie van Disperis (Orchidaceae) bekend as D. bolusiana Schltr., eerder as D. bolusiana Schltr. ex Bolus beskou word. Die agtergrond wat tot hierdie besluit lei, is verduidelik. Die volgende verandering van status van drie spesies van Disperis word voorgestel: D. stenoglossa Schltr. word as sinoniem onder D. woodii Bolus geplaas; D. macrocorys Rolfe word tot die rang van subspesie van D. bolusiana Schltr. ex Bolus verlaag en D. circumflexa (L.) Our. & Schinz var. aemula Sch ltr. word tot subspesie verhoog. Keywords: Africa, Disperis, Orchidaceae, taxonomy Introduction During the revision of the genus Disperis (Orchidaceae) for the Flora of southern Africa, it became apparent that changes in the status of some taxa were warranted. These are given here . All necessary lectotypification will be done in the revision, as it does not affect the taxonomic or nomenclatural decisions presented here . 1. Disperis woodii H. Bal. , J. Linn. Soc. 22: 78, PI. 1, figs 18-22 (1885). Type: Natal, Inanda, in colle graminoso, 2000', IV , Wood 127 (BOL!, K, SAM! , isosyn.); Natal , Sanderson 1010 (SAM! , syn.) . Disperis stenoglossa SchltL, Botanische lahrb. 20 Beibl. 50: 19 (1895). Type: Natal, in palude inter Durban et ostium fluminis Umgeni , 10' , 21.VTTT.1893 , Schlechter 3001 (BOLl , NH!, iso.), syn. nov. Schlechter separated D. stenoglossa from D. woodii on a number of subtle differences in the floral and vegetative characters. In D. stenoglossa the leaves are distant from one another and not opposite, the spur on the dorsal sepal is much shorter than in D. woodii, the lip bears a bifurcate comb and the anther thecae are confluent. Although Schlechter originally compared D. stenoglossa to D. woodii , he was so taken with the apparent difference in leaf insertion that in a later account [Bull. Herb. Boiss. 6: 911 (1898)] he placed the two species in different sections based on this , despite their overwhelming similarity in floral structure. With increased collections available, it is clear that the apparent difference in the position of the leaves and in the length of the spur on the dorsal sepal are not consistent. Examination of rehydrated flowers reveals that the anther thecae vary somewhat in their relationship to one another and that this character also is of no significance. The remaining character of potential value in distinguishing the two species is the nature of the lip appendage . In the account of D. woodii, Bolus described and illustrated the lip appendage as filiform with the apex bifid, the two lobes obtuse. These drawings were made from Wood 127 (BOL). In D. stenoglossa, however, Schlechter described the lip appendage as narrowed and terminated with a forked caruncle or comb. The type at BOL bears on the sheet sketches of the lip by Schlechter which show this , although from them it appears that the apex of the appendage is reflexed rather than ornamented; but this is an error of his art rather than of his observation. These drawings, accompanying a specimen collected by Schlechter , but with any further information unknown, were later seen by Bolus and reproduced in his lcones Orchidearum Austro-Africanum, Vol 1: Tab. 92 (1896) in the account of D. woodii. The description of D. woodii was accordingly also amended to include both forms of lip appendage as follows: 'lip appendage ... filiform above, either bifid at the apex with approximate obtuse lobes , or entire acuminate and abruptly bent downward'. Clearly Wood did not dissect the specimen, but took his description of the lip and appendage from the accompanying drawing and because of this , erred in his interpretation of the structure of the appendage. From this it is clear that although he had seen one of Schlechter's collections of D. stenoglossa, he was in ignorance of Schlechter's conclusion that it represented a different species. In fact, so sure was he of its identity, that he reproduced Schlechter's misleading sketch without examining the specimen further, and in consequence described a lip appendage which has no existence in reality. Accordingly I rehydrated flowers from a number of collections of D. woodiilstenoglossa and examined the lip appendage carefully (Figure 1). From this it became clear that the comb or crest apparently distinctive of D. stenoglossa is present in all collections, although in Wood 127 (BOL) it is reduced to a minute 494 S.-AfLTydskr. Plantk. , 1990,56(4) tooth . Bolus based his description on rehydrated material and clearly overlooked the tooth , since rehydration of the very lip examined and illustrated by him reveals its presence (Figure lC) . It is clear that there is only one species involved and D. stenoglossa is accordingly reduced to synonomy . D. woodii is a diminutive species easily recognised by the erect, tubular spur on the dorsal sepal and the two , alternate or sub-opposite leaves near the base of the stem and by the shape of the lip and appendage , especially the slight excavation of the lip behind the insertion of the appendage. It is a plant of damp, usually sandy grasslands, sometimes growing within the tussocks. The species ranges along the coastal belt below 1 800 m from Tongaland in northern Natal southwards into the eastern Cape. It is closely related to D. breviloba Verdc. from Zambia and Malawi, but in this species the leaves are reduced and sheathing . Additional specimens examined -2632 (Bela Vista) : Kosi system (- DO), Ward 8964 (PRE). -2831 (Nkandla): Ngoye (- DC) , Ward 3456 (PRE). -2930 (Pietermaritzburg): Hilton Rd (- CB) , Bell s.n . (NU) ; Drummond (-DA) , Deane 12 (NU). -2931 (Stanger): Umhlati (- AC) , Wood 11385 (PRE); Tongaat River (- CA), Rich s.n. (SAM) ; Congella (- CD), Schlechter s.n. (PRE). -3029 (Kokstad): Umtamvuna (- DC) , Thompson 24 (NU). -3030 (Port Shepstone) : Dumisa Station (- AD) , Rudatis 1405 (K) ; Shelley Beach (- CB) , Letty 234 (PRE) ; Fern Villa (- CB) , Bass s.n. (PRE). -3128 (Umtata): Umtata (- DB) , Broom s.n . (BOL). -3228 (Butterworth) : Kentani (- CB) , Pegler 41 (BOL , K , PRE , SAM). -3327 (Peddie): Near East London (-BB) , Batten s.n. (NBG); Near Nahoon River mouth (- BB) , Wood 8247 (PRE). L, '"I,i ! 2. Disperis bolusiana Schltr. ex H. Bol., Icones Orchidearum Austro-Africanum , Vol. 1: Tab. 93 (1896) . Type : Cape, prope Stellenbosch, Lloyd sub Sanderson 937 (K, syn .); Cape , in arenosis , prope Groene Kloof, c. 300' , X.1878, Bolus 4337 (BOL! , syn.) ; Cape, in arenosis prope Hopefield, 100 m, 13 .X1.1894 , Bachman & Schlechter 5321 (AMES! , BOL!, NH!, PRE!, isosyn.). Disperis bolusiana SchltL , Botanische lahrb. 24: 430 (1897). Type: Cape, bei Stellenbosch , Lloyd s.n. sub Sanderson 937 (= Lloyd s.n.) (K , syn.); Cape , auf Hugel in den Tygerbergen , IV.1876 , Bergiuss.n. (Ioc . incert., syn.); Cape , auf Hugein bei Malmesbury bei 55 m, IX.1894 , Schlechter 5346 (Ioc. incert. , syn .); Cape, in arenosis , prope Groene Kloof, c. 300', X.1878 , Bolus 4337 (BOL! , syn.) ; Cape , an de n Abhangen der Berge bei Piquenierskloof, 1 200'/380 m, VIII .1894 , Schlechter 4972 (AMES! , MO! , isosyn .) ; Cape , in arenosis prope Hopefield , 100 m, 13.IX.1894, Bachman & Schlechter 5321 (AMES! , BOL!, NH! , PRE! , isosyn.) , syn. nov. Disperis purpurata Reichb. f. vaL parviflora H . BoL , J. Linn. Soc. 22: 79 (1885). Disperis purpurata Reichb. f. vaL parvifolia H. BoL, Icon. Orch. Austro-AfL 1: Tab. 93 (1896) (sphalm. for parviflora). Although D. bolusiana has been invariably attributed to Schlechter, this is not actually the case. The taxon had been known for some time already to Bolus , but he had not considered it worthy of specific rank and had accordingly described it as D. purpurata Reichb. f. vaL parviflora Bolus in 1885. When Schlechter saw plants in the field, however, he realized that they did indeed represent a distinct species and drew this fact to the attention of Bolus ; he must also have proposed to call it D. bolusiana. Bolus accordingly described and illustrated the species for the first volume of his book [Icon. Orch. Austro-AfL 1: 93 (1896)] under the name D. bolusiana Schlechter, citing material seen by him. Under this name he places his variety in synonomy , but in error as vaL parvifolia. Schlechter's description of D . bolusiana , however , only appeared the following year (1897). The name was therefore first published by Bolus and the Schlechter name is regarded as a synonym. The epithet parviflora, although published before bolusiana, does not perforce have priority over it for the name of the species as it was published only at varietal rank (Article 11.3 of the ICBN). 3. Disperis bolusiana Schltr. ex H. Bol. subsp . macrocorys (Rolfe) 1. C. Manning, stat. nov. Disperis macrocorys Rolfe in Thiselton-Dyer , Flora Capensis 5(3) : 306 (1913) . Type: Cape, Clanwilliam District, in monte Koudeberg , prope Wupperthal, 2400' , Bolus 9093 (BOL! , MO! , NBG! , NH! , PRE!, iso.). B c Figure 1 Lip and appendage of Disperis woodii. A, Pegler 41 (BOL); B, Batten s.n . (NBG); C, Wood 127 (BOL). Scale bar = 1 mm. Disperis macrocorys differs from D. bolusiana in the colour of the flowers, which are white instead of greenish-yellow and in the longer spur on the dorsal sepal, which is accompanied by a corresponding increase in the length of the lip claw and appendage. The spur in D. macrocorys is up curved at the apex and 1.5-2 times 495 S.Afr.l . Bot., 1990, 56(4) as deep as tall (9-13 mm) and the lip claw and appendage are 6 mm and 3 mm long respectively; the spur in D. bolusiana is about as deep as tall (3-6 mm) and the lip claw and appendage are 5 mm and 1.5 mm long respectively . Tn all other respects, including the shape of the lip and appendage and the rostellum, the two taxa are indistinguishable. D. bolusiana ranges over much of the south-western Cape, from near Calvinia to Riversdale (Figure 2A), growing in various drier fynbos types, including Rhenosterveld, from 60-700(- 1200) m. D . macrocorys, however, is known only from the adjacent Cedarberg, Koudeberg and Pakhuis Mountains in the northern section of the range of D. bolusiana (Figure 2A), and the populations occur around 900-1000 m. The two taxa may be regarded as allopatric since the northern populations of D. bolusiana occur at lower altitudes around these mountains and the two do not occur together. The morphological differences between them are merely quantitative and too slight to justify separation at the species level and D. macrocorys is accordingly regarded as a subspecies of D. bolusiana . Additional specimens seen subsp. bolusiana -3119 (Calvinia): Between Oorlog's Kloof and Papkuilsfontein (-AC), Leipoldt 3232 (BOL). -3218 (Clanwilliam): Leipoldt's Grave (-BB), Steiner 774 (NBG) ; Olifants River & Villa Brakfontein (- BD) , Ecklon & Zeyher Orchid 87 (MO) . -3318 (Cape Town): North of Bok Beach (- AD), Acocks 24385 (PRE, MO) ; Near Darling (-AD), Bolus 12830 (BOL); Near summit of Kapokberg (- AD) , Schelpe s.n . (BOL); Helmanshof (- BB), du Plessis s.n. (BOL); Near Mamre (-CB) , Leipoldt 21399 (BOL) ; Bellville (-DC), White s.n. (BOL); Between Raapenberg and Athlone Stations (-DC), Griffen s.n. (BOL). -3319 (Worcester): Base of Waboomsberg (-AD) , Linder 7448 (BOL); Theronsberg (- BC), Barker 1996 (NBG); Verkeerdevlei Dam (- BO), Acocks 23734 (PRE); Du Toits Kloof (-CA), Lewis 5024 (SAM); Nature Reserve (-CB) , Olivier 266 (PRE); Karoo Garden (-CB), Barker 4743 (NBG) , Leighton 7956 (BOL); Hill opposite Brandvlei Dam inflow (- CB), van laarsveld 2583 (NBG); Rabiesberg (- DA), Lewis s.n. (BOL) , Mauve & Olivier 240 (PRE); Hex River (- DA) , Bolus s.n. (BOL) , 3079 (NBG); Eendracht (- DB), 4733 (SAM) . -3320 (Montagu): Touws River (- AC) , Giffen 288 (BOL). -3420 (Bredasdorp): Napky (- AB) , Acocks 22590 (PRE). -3421 (Riversdale): Near Kafir Kuils River (- AB), Muir 2594 (BOL, PRE) . subsp. macrocorys -3219 (Wuppertal): Pakhuis Pass (-AA), Stokoe s.n. (SAM) , Schelpe 4966 (SAM) , Esterhuysen s.n. (BOL); Wuppertal (- AC) , Leipold! 926A (SAM); Cedarberg (- AD), Bruyns 2371 (NBG). • • JOO o 0 B Figure 2 Western Cape showing geographical distribution of A , Di5peris bolusiana: subsp. bolusiana (solid circles) and subsp . macrocorys (open circles) and B, Disperis circumflexa: subsp. circumflexa (solid circles) and subsp. aemula (open circles) . 4. Disperis circumflexa (L.) Dur. & Schinz subsp. aemula (Schltr.) 1. C. Manning, stat. nov . Disperis circumflexa (L.) Dur . & Schinz var. aemula Schltr., Bull. Herb. Boiss., ser 1, 6: 923 (1898). Type: South Africa, Cape, in saxosis juxta flumen Olifantrivier, c. 400', 25.VIII.1894, Schlechter 5013 (BOL!, PRE!); in fruticetus arenosis montium Olifantrivierbergen, c. 1 000', IX.1894, Schlechter s. n. (loc. incert., syn.); Penther s.n . (loc. incert., syn); Penther s.n . (loc. incert., syn.) . This taxon was originally described by Schlechter as merely a variety of Disperis circumflexa, distinguished from typical forms of that species by the larger flowers with deeper hood on the dorsal sepal and longer lip appendage. The taxon is also usually larger and more robust in habit, with broader leaves, than is typical, and the rostellar arms are longer. These largely quantitative differences are combined with a difference in flower colour, however, and the taxa also have complementary distributions . D. circumflexa var. aemula is accordingly more properly recognized as a subspecies. Subsp. circumflexa is characterized by uniformly greenishyellow flowers, strongly spotted with dark green on the petals and occurs in the south-western Cape, from near 496 Cla nwilliam to Riviersonderend , with a single record from Riversdale (Figure 2B). Subsp. aemula , however , has the sepals pale greenish and the petals white , marked with purple spots and occurs largely to the north of the range of subsp . circumflexa , from Clanwilliam and Wuppertal to the Kamiesberg (Figure 2B). Although the ranges of the two subspecies overlap very slightly, there are no mixed collections and they apparently do not grow together in the region of sympatry. Additional specimens seen subsp. circumflexa -3218 (Clanwilliam): Olywenboschkraal (- BD) , Compton 20040 (NBG) , Linder ]]35 (BOL) ; Diep Kloof (-BD), 1727 (BOL) ; Between Grey's Pass and Clanwilliam (-BD) , Leipoldt 3804 (BOL) ; Zebrakop (- DB) , Taylor 3906 (PRE); Piquenierskloof (- DB), Schlechter 4945 (PRE); Piketberg Mountain (-DD), Barker 10254 (NBG), Bolus 13647 (BOL). -3219 (Wuppertal): Elandskop (-CA) , L ewis s.n. (PRE), Maguire 1810 (NBG) . -3318 (Cape Town): Near Malmesbury (- BC) , 3638 (BOL) ; Melkbosch Strand (-CB), Bond 506 (NBG) ; Lions Head (- CD) , Schlechter s.n. (AMES) , Levyns s.n . (BOL); Devils Peak (- CD), Bolus 4817 (BOL, PRE); Near Cape Town (- CD) , Ecklon & Zeyher Orchid 80 (AMES , MO, PRE), Marlolh 784 (PRE); Mamre Road (- CD) , Leighton 568 (BOL) ; Katzenberg (-DA) , Penfold 284 (NBG); Dal Josaphat (-DB) , Grant 2331 (MO); Wellington (- DB), Cummings 74 (BOL), Thomson 134 (PRE); Hercules Pillar (- DB) , Schelpe s.n. (BOL); Paardeberg (- DB) , Linder 4218 (BOL); Bellville (- DC) , White s.n. (BOL); Malmesbury (- DC) , Gillett 3638 (BOL). -3319 (Worcester): Gydo Pass (- AB) , Hafstrom & Acock 359 (PRE) ; Tulbagh (-AC) , Grant 2460 (MO) , Bolus 73497 (BOL) ; Waboomsberg (- AD), Linder 7450 (BOL); Bain's Kloof (- CA) , Walters 962 (NBG) , Esterhuysen 21789A (BOL, PRE); Rawsonville (- CB) , A. V. Hall 1045 (BOL) ; Botha 's Halt (- CB), 258 (BOL); Franschhoek (- CC) , Bolus 8407 (BOL , PRE), Levyns 3424 (BOL) . -3418 (Simonstown): Muizenburg (- AB) , Bodkin s.n. (BOL); Cape Flats (- BA), Guthrie 108 (BOL) ; Sir Lowry's Pass (- BB) , Schelpe 4889 (BOL) ; Somerset West (- BB), Prentice s.n . p.p. (PRE). S.-Afr.Tydskr. Plantk., 1990,56(4) -3419 (Caledon): Houw Hoek (- AA) , Bolus s.n. (BOL) , Schelpe 4878 (BOL); Hawston (- AC), Compton 3384 (BOL) ; Riviersonderend (- BB), Primos s.n. (PRE) ; Duivenhoks River Gorge (- BB) , Acocks 27399 (PRE). subsp . aemula -3018 (Kamiesberg) : Kamiesberg, Phillips 7563 (BOL). -3118 (Vanrhynsdorp): Giftberg (-CB) , Phillips 7640 (BOL), Compton 20837 (NBG). -3119 (Calvinia): Niewoudville (- AC) , A cocks 18527 (PRE) , Leistner 413 (PRE) , Marloth 7933 (PRE). -3218 (Clanwilliam): Near Algeria turning (- BB), Barker 5759 (NBG) , Steiner 706 (NBG); Pakhuis Pass (- BB) , Lewis 22277 (BOL) , Barker 4702 (NBG) , Leipoldt s.n. (BOL) . -3219 (Wuppertal) : Citadel Kop (- AA), Compton 24310 (NBG) ; Koudcberg (- AD) , Bolus 9091 (BOL); 24 km north of Citrusdal (- CA) , Compton 5208 (NBG). Acknowledgements My thanks to the Curator , Missouri Botanical Garden , at which institution this research was done; to Mr D . Johnson, the Botanical Bibliophile Extraordinaire at the same institution, for his assistance in tracking down references ; and to Dr P . Bruyns, University of Cape Town, for drawing to my attention the incorrect citation of Disperis bolusiana. References BOLUS , H. 1885. Contributions to South African Botany Orchideae . Part II. 1. Linn Soc. 22: 65- 80 , PI. 1. BOLUS, H. 1896. leones Orchidearum Austro-Africanum. Vol. II, William Wesley & Son, London. GREUTER , W. (ed.) 1988. International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Regnum Vegetabile 118. ROLFE , R.A. 1913 Order CXXXI Orchideae. In: Flora Capensis , ed. Thiselton-Dyer , W .T. , Vol. V(3), pp. 3- 332. SCHLECTER, 1895. Beitrage zur kenntnis neuer und kritischer Orchideen aus Sudafrika. Bot. lahrb . Beibl. 50(4) : 19. SCHLECTE R , 1897 . Beitrage zur Flora von Afrika. XV . Orchidaceae africanae novae vel minus cognitae. Bal. lahrb . 24: 430. SCHLECTER, 1898 . Monographie der Disperidae. Bull. Herb. Boiss. 6: 911-954.