Home | > | List of families | > | Orchidaceae | > | Disperis | > | johnstonii |
Synonyms: |
Disperis stolzii Schltr. |
Common names: | |
Frequency: | Local |
Status: | Native |
Description: |
Small terrestrial herb, up to 15 cm high, growing from ovoid to globose, hairy tubers, 7-15 mm long. Leaves 2-3, alternate, ovate, 2-3 cm long, clasping the stem at the base, dark green with whitish veining, purple beneath. Inflorescences 1-5-flowered. Dorsal sepal and petals yellow (sometimes pale purple in East Africa), forming an open hood; lateral sepals white or very pale mauve. Lip 4-6.5 mm long, claw bent back on itself near the base bearing a 2-lobed appendage with papillose lobes; claw ending in an ovate to amost round blade with a papillose protuberance in the centre. |
Notes: | |
Derivation of specific name: | johnstonii: after Sir Henry (Harry) Hamilton Johnston (1858-1927), British administrator and explorer, who collected flora and fauna specimens in many parts of Afrca. His best known discovery likely is the okapi, which he first found and |
Habitat: | Brachystegia woodland and forest patches, usually in shelter of rocks. |
Altitude range: (metres) | 1050 - 1350 m |
Flowering time: | Mar-Jun |
Worldwide distribution: | Nigeria, Cameroon, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N |
Growth form(s): | Terrestrial. |
Endemic status: | |
Red data list status: | |
Insects associated with this species: | |
Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
Images last updated: | Saturday 25 May 2013 |
Literature: |
Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 57. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 80. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 230 - 232. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 156 - 157. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 95. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119. Summerhayes, V.S. (1968). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 219 - 220. (Includes a picture). Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 103 - 104. (Includes a picture). |
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