Disa equestris Rchb. f.

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Photo: Warren McCleland
Near Solwezi, North-western Zambia

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Muchana dambo, Mwinilunga Distr., North-Western Province

Photo: Nicholas Wightman
Kikana area, Solwezi Distr., North-Western Province

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Synonyms:	Disa huillensis Fritsch
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Description:	Terrestrial herb, 35-60 cm tall. Leaves along the fertile stem, narrowly lanceolate, up to 15 cm long, sheathing at the base, upper leaves grading into floral bracts. Inflorescence 8-20 cm long, fairly laxly 10-40-flowered. Bracts ovate, pointed, usually shorter than the ovaries. Flowers violet to purple, sometimes white on the lip. Dorsal sepal with a more or less horizontal, cylindric to obconic spur, 6-8 mm, straight, often upcurved at the subclavate apex. Lateral sepals 6-8 mm long, oblong, rounded. Petals falcate, c. 4.5 × 1.5 mm. Lip oblong, rounded, 4.5-6 mm long, convex and papillate on the upper surface.
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Flowering time:	Dec - Jan
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, CAR, DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
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Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Burrows, J.E. & Willis, C.K. (eds) (2005). Plants of the Nyika Plateau Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 31 SABONET, Pretoria Page 321. Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 22. Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 128. Fibeck, W. & Dare, M. (1993). Terrestrial Orchids in Zimbabwe. Excelsa 16 Page 56. Grosvenor, R.K. (1976). A list of orchids indigenous in Rhodesia. Excelsa 6 Page 80. La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Pages 178 - 179. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Pages 120 - 122. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 95. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119. Schelpe, E.A.C.L.E. (1976). A Provisional Checklist of the Orchidaceae of Mozambique South African Journal of Botany 42(4) Page 390. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 85 - 88. (Includes a picture). Wursten, B., Timberlake, J. & Darbyshire, I. (2017). The Chimanimani Mountains: an updated checklist. Kirkia 19(1) Page 84.

Other sources of information about Disa equestris:

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Flora of Malawi: Disa equestris
Flora of Mozambique: Disa equestris
Flora of Zambia: Disa equestris
Flora of Zimbabwe: Disa equestris

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Disa equestris
African Plant Database: Disa equestris
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Disa equestris
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Disa equestris
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Disa equestris
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iNaturalist: Disa equestris
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Disa equestris
JSTOR Plant Science: Disa equestris
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Disa equestris
Plants of the World Online: Disa equestris
Tropicos: Disa equestris
Wikipedia: Disa equestris