TAB. 43. 



Tribe Ophryde^. 



Sub-tribe DiSEJ?. 



Genus DiSA. 



Disa comosa, Schlechter, in Engl. Bot. Jahrb.^ vol. xxxi. (1902), 

 p. 206. - Herba adscendens glabra, 15-40 cm. alta ; caulis saepius 

 debilis, basi foliatus. medio vaginatus, vaginis 4-5, imbricatis, 

 arete appressis, acutis submembranaceis ; folia 2-4, erecto-patentia, 

 infima ovata, vel oblongo-elliptica, subobtusa, basi vaginantia, 

 10-15 cm. longa, medio 5-7 cm. lata, superiora sensim minora ; 

 spica cylindrica, subdense multiflora, floribus erectis ; bracteae 

 ovarium amplectentes, ovatae, acutae vel acuminatae, membranaceae 

 reticulatae, ovario breviores ; sepala lateralia patentia oblonga 

 subacuta, 0-6-0-8 cm. longa ; sepalum impar erectum galeato- 

 concavum obtusum, 0*8-l cm. longum, calcare dependente filiformi, 

 ovario aequilongo vel paullo longiore ; petala erecta subfalcata, 

 oblique ovato-oblonga, basi posteriore ampliata, obtusa vel obscure 

 bilobulata, sepalis lateralibus aequilonga ; labellum deflexum 

 oblongum, obtusum vel apice angustatum, petalis aequilongum ; 

 anthera valde resupinata ; rostelli brachia reflexa ; stigma rotun- 

 datum prominens, a rostello aequilongo separatum profundo 

 excavatione ; ovarium 1 •5-2*5 cm. longum. {Ex exempli. plur. viv. 

 exsiccatisque.) Monadenia rufescens, Lindl., Gen. & Spec. Orch. 

 (1838), p. 356 {non D rufescens, Sw.) ; Monadenia COmosa, Reichb. 

 /., in Linncea xx. (1847),/). 687; D. ajjfinis, N.E.Br., in Card. 

 Chron. xxiv. (1885), p. 402. 



Hab-: South-western Region ; Cape Peninsula, in clefts of 

 rocks, and shady places on the eastern mountain-sides, alt. 

 420-750 met., fl. Sept.-Oct., frequent. Bolus, 4555 ! Herb. Norm. 

 Aust.-Afr., 170! Wolley-Dod, 3506! Drakensteenbergen, alt. 

 600-900 met., fl. Oct., Drege ; near Grenadendal, id. ; Giftberg, alt, 

 450-750 met., fl. Nov., id.; Langebergen, near Swellendam, alt. 

 300-1200 met., fl. Jan., Burchell, ISoT, Zeyher, 3925 ; Outeniqua- 

 bergen above Montagu Pass, alt. 1050 met , fl. Nov., R. Schlechter. 



Plate 43. Fig. 1, flower, oblique view ; 2, ditto, front view ; 

 3, one of the petals ; 4, column, oblique view ; 5, pollinarium. 



An ascending glabrous herb, 15-40 cm. high ; stem usually 



