Tas. 8415. 
DISA LueExs. 
South Africa. 
OrncHIpAcrEaAk. Tribe OpprypEAr. 
Disa, Berg.; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant. vol. iii. p. 630. 
Disa (Herschelia) lugens, Bolus in Journ. Linn. Soc. vol. xx. p. 483, in Trans, 
S. Afr. Phil. Soc. vol. v. p. 171 et in Ic. Orch. Austr.-Afr. vol. ii. t. 76; 
N. L. Br. in Gard, Chron. 1885, vol. xxiv. p. 232; Schlecht. in Engl. Jahrb. 
vol. xxxi. p. 288; affinis D. barbatae, Sw., sed labello amplo et viride, sepalo 
postico viridi-striato et sepalis lateralibus purpureis differt. 
Hlerba terrestris, gracilis, 40-80 cm. alta. Folia radicalia, pauca, suberecta, 
elongato-linearia, graminifolia, subacuta, rigida, supra canaliculata, subtus 
carinata, 20-55 cm. longa. Scapus erectus, strictus vel flexuosus, 40-80 cm. 
altus, vaginis membranaceis arcte amplectentibus acuminatis distantibus 
-  vestitus. Racemus 10-20 em. longus, laxe 5-15-florus. Bractese ovato- 
lanceolatae, acuminatissimae, membranaceae, pedicellis multo breviores. 
Pedicelli 2-2°5 cm. longi. Flores patentes, mediocres. Sepalum posticum 
galeatum, late ovatum, apice acutum et recurvum, 1-1°4 cm. longum, 
pallide coeruleum, viridi-striatum; dorso in calcar conicum apice acumi- 
natum et recurvum 6-8 mm. longum producto. Sepaia Jateralia patentia, 
oblongo-lanceolata, acuta, 1-1-4 cm. longa, purpurea. Petala resupinata, 
biloba, incurva, 6 mm. longa; lobo postico oblongo-lanceolato utrinque 
denticulato, lobo antico faleato-oblongo obtuso et integro. Labellum 
deflexum vel recurvum, oblongo-linguiforme, profunde lacerato-multifidum, 
1:8-2°3 em. longum, laciniis apicem versus saepe 2-4-lobis. Columnu 
brevis; anthera valde resupinata; rostellum erectum, trifidum; stigma 
pulvinatum.—D. barbata, Lindl. Gen. et Sp. Orch. p. 354, partim ; non Sw. 
Herschelia lugens, Kraenzl. Orch. Gen. et Sp. vol. i. p. 806.—R. A. Roi¥e. 
The interesting South African Orchid which forms the 
subject of our illustration is one of the “ blue” Disas, which 
are sometimes looked upon as belonging to a distinct genus 
Hlersehelia, Lindl, According to the late Mr. Bolus, who 
first described the species in 1884, our subject is by far the 
tallest and strongest member of the Herschelia group which is 
here treated as a distinct section. This species was, prior to its 
differentiation by Dr. Bolus, confused with the nearly allied 
D. barbata, Sw., but is readily distinguished by the metallic 
greenish-purple hue of its flowers; those of D. barbata are 
white, lined with blue on the dorsal sepal. D. /ugens grows 
on the Cape Flats, in moist sandy soil among festiaceae, at 
an elevation of about 100 feet above sea level, and flowers 
there in the months of October and November. From this 
January, 1912. 
