Disperis thomensis Summerh.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Near Dam Luwawa Forest Lodge, Viphya, Mzimba

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Synonyms:
Common names:
Frequency:	Local
Status:	Native
Description:	Small terrestrial herb 9–15 cm tall; tuber c. 1 cm long, woolly. Leaves 2, opposite, ovate, 2–5 cm long, dark green, sheathing at the base; margins wavy. Inflorescence 1–4-flowered; flowers white, green on the hooded spur with purple markings. Dorsal sepal lanceolate, acute, concave, bent above the middle, joined to petals to form a hood c. 5 mm long. Lateral sepals free, obliquely obovate, 5–6 mm long, with a long point at the apex and incurved, conical spurs 2–2.5 mm long near inner edge. Petals 5.3–6.5 mm long, narrowly oblong, the front edge with a rounded lobe at base, the posterior edge with a suberect median lobe 1.5 mm long; apex shortly forked, the anterior fork longer than the posterior. Lip 4.5–7 mm long, the apex bent abruptly inwards and shortly apiculate, the front face joined to the apex of 2 papillose appendages; appendages 6 mm long, 2-lobed with one lobe straight, the other recurved.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	thomensis: of São Tomé, where the type specimen was collected.
Habitat:	In leaf litter and rock faces, in deeply shaded places in evergreen and riverine forest.
Altitude range:	1300 - 2150 m
Flowering time:	Mar - Apr
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Bioko, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast; Liberia, Nigeria, São Tomé, Sierra Leone, DRC, Tanzania, 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:	Sunday 10 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 323. Fischer, E., Killmann, D., Delepierre, G. & Lebel, J-P. (2010). The Orchids of Rwanda Koblenz Geographical Colloquia Series Biogeographical Monographs 2 Pages 199 - 200. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 246. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 160. (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. In error; does NOT occur in Zimbabwe 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. Pages 103 - 104. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Burundi: Disperis thomensis
Flora of the DRC: Disperis thomensis
Flora of Rwanda: Disperis thomensis
Flora of Zambia: Disperis thomensis

External websites:

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