!Disa uniflora P.J. Bergius 1767 SECTION Disa Linder Photo courtesy of © Stefan Paeffgen

Plant ensitu in South Africa Photo courtesy of Karsten Wodrich

Another Flower Closeup Photo by © Eric Hunt and His Orchid Website

Another Clone Photo courtesy of Carl Withner

Yellow Flower Form Photos by © Eric Hunt and His Orchid Website

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Common Name The Single Flowered Disa

Flower Size to 4" [8 to 12 cm]

Found on Table Mountain in South Africa at elevations of 100 to 1200 meters near permanent, fast moving water along streams, rock crevasses, seepage areas and waterfalls, this small to large sized, cool to cold growing terrestrial orchid has stout leafy stems with lanceolate to elongate-lanceolate, acute, spreading leaves and blooms in the fall through spring on a 3 to 8" [20 to 30 cm]long, raceme with lanceolate, acuminate bracts and 1 to 3 flowers, occasionally more, occuring through the summer and is found growing up through cracks in the sandstone that have standing water for the summer months. Best grown with cold to cool temperatures, potted in sphagnum and coarse river sand with great drainage, heavy air movement, high humidity and semi-shade year round will ensure a healthy plant.

Synonyms Disa barelli hort. ex Puydt 1880; Disa grandiflora L. f. 1782; Satyrium grandiflorum Thunb. 1794

References W3 Tropicos, Kew Monocot list , IPNI ; Wild Orchids of Southern Africa Stewart, Linder, Schelpe & Hall 1982 photo fide; Schlechteriana Vol 2 No 2 1991 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 69 No 7 2000 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 71 No 9 2002 Drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 72 No 4 2003 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 73 No 12 2004 drawing; AOS Bulletin Vol 75 No 5 2006 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 75 No 7 2006 photo; A molecular phylogeny for the large African orchid genus Disa Bytebier 2006Australian Orchid Review Vol 72 No 4 2007 photo; AOS Bulletin Vol 77 No 8 2008 photo