Disa welwitschii Rchb. f.
subsp. welwitschii

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (8)

Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

Habit
Grassland patches in open woodland in clay to clay loam soils
Kanyafimbolo area, Lufwanyama District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

Inflorescence
Grassland patches in open woodland in clay to clay loam soils
Kanyafimbolo area, Lufwanyama District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

Flowers
Grassland patches in open woodland in clay to clay loam soils
Kanyafimbolo area, Lufwanyama District
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

Habit
Very large open dambo
Muchana dambo
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

Inflorescence
Very large open dambo
Muchana dambo
Jan 2019
Photo: Nick Wightman

Specimen citations: Display citations Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms: Disa breyeri Schltr.
Disa calophylla Kraenzl.
Disa hyacintina Kraenzl.
Disa ignea Kraenzl.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status: Native
Description:
Terrestrial herb, 20-100 cm tall. Leaves 2-4 on a separate sterile shoot,semi-erect, linear-elliptic, 10-30 cm long, folded along the length, basal sheath often blotched with red. Leaves along the fertile shoot, lanceolate, 3-10 cm long, lanceolate, mostly sheathing, the basal 2 reduced to short sheaths blotched with red. Inflorescence 3-14 cm long, densely 20-100-flowered; bracts inconspicuous, as long as the ovaries or longer at the base of the inflorescence. Flowers bright orange-red to carmine. Dorsal sepal erect, forming a narrowly oblong to lanceolate hood, 4.5-11 mm long, with pendent spur, 3.5-6 mm long. Lateral sepals 5-9 mm long, obliquely oblong-ovate. Petals 2-lobed, anterior lobe 3-8 mm long, ovate, spreading, the upper margin incurved; posterior lobe c. one third longer than anterior lobe, ovate-lanceolate, often truncate. Lip pendent, linear, 4-12 mm long.
Type location:
Angola
Notes:
Derivation of specific name: welwitschii: named after the Austrian botanist, Friedrich Martin Welwitsch (1806-1872).
Habitat:
Altitude range:
Flowering time:Dec - Mar(Apr)
Worldwide distribution: Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho and South Africa.
Zambian distribution (Flora Zambesiaca): B,N,W,C,E,S
Zambian distribution (Provinces): Nw,N,Mc,E,C,Lk,W
Growth form(s): Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status: Lower Risk - near threatened
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters: Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated: Monday 23 December 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 322. (Includes a picture).

Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 128.

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. as Disa welwitschii

La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 164.

La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 114 - 115. (Includes a picture).

Linder, H.P. (1981). Taxonomic studies in the Disinae (Orchidaceae): IV A revision of Disa Berg. sect. Micranthae Lindl. Bulletin du Jardin Botanique National de Belgique 51(3/4) Pages 301 - 306. (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.

McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008). Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Pages 196 - 197. (Includes a picture).

Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 49 - 50. as Disa welwitschii (Includes a picture).

Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119.

Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 390.

Summerhayes, V.S. (1964). African orchids XXIX Kew Bulletin 17(3) Pages 543 - 545. as Disa welwitschii

Other sources of information about Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii:

Our websites:

Flora of Malawi: Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii
Flora of Mozambique: Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii
Flora of Zimbabwe: Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii

External websites:

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


Copyright: Mike Bingham, Annette Willemen, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Mark Hyde, 2011-24

Bingham, M.G., Willemen, A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. and Hyde, M.A. (2024). Flora of Zambia: Species information: Disa welwitschii subsp. welwitschii.
https://www.zambiaflora.com/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=117440, retrieved 19 April 2024

Site software last modified: 10 May 2018 10:51pm
Terms of use