Tap. 7256, 
DISA  Coopert. 
Native of Natal. 
Nat. Ord. OncuipEm. Tribe OpHrypez. 
Genus Disa, Berg.; (Benth. & Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. iii. p. 630.) 
Disa (Eudisa) Cooperi ; robusta, foliis lineari- v. elliptico-lanceolatis v. oblan- 
ceolatis subacutis infimis in petiolam augustatis, scapo vaginato, spica 
robusta multiflora, floribus odoris, bracteis magnis herbaceis ovario 
longioribus cymbiformibus apicibus elongatis subulatis sphacelatis rubro- 
castaneis, sepalo dor-ali infundibulari pallido in cornu ascendente gracili 
ovario multoties longiore attenuato, lateralibus oblongis reflexis roseis, 
petalis dolabriformibus retusis. labello unguiculato flavo-viridi late ovato 
sub apice rotundato obscure trilobo, anthera postica, polliniis pendulis 
glandulis dissitis, stigmate ? magno tumido. 
D. Cooperi, Reichb. f. in Flora, \xiv. (1881) 328. 
Under D. incarnata (Tab. 7243) I have alluded to the 
extraordinary diversity that obtains between the same 
organs of the various species of this supremely polymorphic 
genus. Compared with D. incarnata, putting aside the 
obvious difference between them in the forms of the mem- 
bers of the perianth, there is a yet greater one in the 
anther, which is in the former species erect with the 
rostellum and its pouches placed immediately above the 
stigma, and the pollinia erect, but in this the anther is 
thrown back, or as it were turned over, with the rostellum 
and its pouches rising high above the stigma, and the 
pollinia are pendulous. In the one case the anther faces 
the lip, in the other it faces the dorsal sepal. Another 
Singular feature in D. Cooperi is the great size of what 1 
take to be the stigma, and which forms a fleshy rounded 
boss at the base of the very short column, overhanging the 
claw of the lip, and at least twice as broad as the rest of 
the column. A similarly resupinate anther occurs in other 
species, as in D. obtusa, Lindl., figured by M. Bolus in his 
** Orchids of the Cape Peninsula,” p. 153, Plate 34, which 
is otherwise a widely dissimilar species, in every floral 
organ. In various other species the anther is horizontal, 
or more or less inclined backwards or forwards. 
SEPTEMBER Ist, 1892. 
