146 ORCHIDS OF THE CAPE PENINSULA. 
Colour of the flower a lilac-blue, the anther carmine. ‘This is a 
very interesting and distinct species, and cannot be mistaken for any 
other. It is by no means uncommon, and indeed I have seen it 
growing in profusion in some seasons on the precipice sometimes 
called ‘‘Tremble Krantz.’’ Possibly it was here where Thunberg 
found it in Jan., 1778. I do not know whether he was its first 
discoverer, but his account is so interesting to the local botanist that 
I venture to transcribe it :— 
‘“‘ Having got to the top,” he says, ‘‘ we were recompensed for our 
trouble by a great number of rare plants, especially of the Orchidea, 
as they are called, which I never afterwards could meet with either 
here at other seasons, or indeed at all on any other mountain. Among 
these the Orchis grandiflora, or Disa uniflora (BErem Plante Capenses) 
was conspicuous by its beautiful flowers; of the Serapias tabularis 
[Hulophia tabularis] we found only one specimen; the Serapias mela- 
leuca [Disa melaleuca] was distinguished by its black and white 
flowers, the most uncommon in nature; and with great difficulty, and 
at the hazard of my life, I got for the first and last time the blue Disa 
longicornis, which is as beautiful as it is singular in its form. This 
last plant grew in one spot only, on a steep rock, and so high np, that 
in order to come at it after we had clambered up the side of the rock 
as high as we could, I was obliged to get upon the shoulders of 
M. Sonnerat, when, with a long stick, I beat down five of these 
plants, the only specimens that were then in bloom. M. Sonnerar, 
who before had not had an opportunity of collecting as many plants 
at the foot of the mountain as I had, made, in this one day only, a 
collection of 800 different species; but was so singularly unfortunate, 
though he had brought with him three pairs of shoes for this 
excursion, as to return to town barefooted. .... Your thin French 
pumps are by no means suited for excursions upon the mountains, 
which require shoes made of waxed leather with thick soles.” 
(Travels: English ed. (1795), vol. 1., p. 220). 
The other Orchids mentioned by Thunberg have been found else- 
where, but like him I have never found the present species except on 
Table Mountain. 
Puate 6.—Fig. 1, odd sepal, side sepals, and lip; 2, flower with sepals removed ; 
8, one of the petals, all of the natural size; 4, column x 3 diameters; 5, pollinium, 
magnified. 
10. Disa maculata, Linneus, the younger, Suppl. to Syst. Veg. 
(1781), p. 407, not of Harvey.—Glabrous, a span high; stem de- 
cumbent, slender, one-flowered ; leaves 2-8, linear-lanceolate, acute, 
herbaceous, 2-3 in. long, succeeded by about three lanceolate, acute, 
scarious sheaths, closely enwrapping the stem; side sepals ovate, 
acuminate, spreading, 8-9 lines long; odd sepal somewhat funnel- 
