Disa hircicornis Rchb. f.

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Photo: Margaret Westrop
Zomba Plateau, Malawi

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chelinda Bridge, Nyika National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along Northern Loop, Nyika National Park.

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Synonyms:	Disa amblyopetala Schltr. Disa culveri Schltr. Disa laeta Rchb. f.
Common names:
Frequency:	Local and occasional
Status:	Native
Description:	Terrestrial herb, 30-60 cm tall. Leaves usually 2 on a separate sterile shoot,semi-erect, narrowly elliptic to linear, up to 30 cm long, folded along the length. Leaves along the fertile shoot, lanceolate, 5-20 cm long, mostly sheathing, mottled or barred red at the base. Inflorescence 6-20 cm long, densely 20-70-flowered; bracts as tall or taller than the flowers, lanceolate with apices often reflexed. Flowers facing down at an angle of c. 45°, deep, dusty purple to purple-red. Dorsal sepal forming a conical hood, 4-6 mm with slender ascending spur, 8-13 mm long, sharply curving back in the middle. Lateral sepals spreading, 7.5 mm long, oblong. Petals erect, 4-5.5 mm long. Lip pendent, linear to narrowly elliptic, 4-5.5 mm long.
Notes:	This species can still be found in the East of the country but, although this species has been recorded from both Central and Southern divisions, the records are all at least 50 years old and populations from these locations have most likely not survived the influences of man.
Derivation of specific name:	hircicornis: with goat-like horns, presumably referring to the shape of the spur.
Habitat:	In wet grassland and marshy areas.
Altitude range: (metres)	1500 - 1800 m
Flowering time:	Dec - Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Angola, Nigeria, Cameroon, DRC, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Zimbabwe distribution:	C,E,S
Growth form(s):	Terrestrial.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Wednesday 12 October 2011
Literature:	Ball, J.S. (2009). Terrestrial African Orchids, A Selected Review. Pages 56 - 57. (Includes a picture). Baumann, G. (2005). Photographic Guide to Wildflowers of Malawi Wildlife and Environmental Society of Malawi Pages 222 - 223. (Includes a picture). 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. (Includes a picture). 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. also as Disa amblyopetala La Croix, I. & Cribb, P.J. (1995). Orchidaceae (Part 1) Flora Zambesiaca 11(1) Page 180. La Croix, I. et al. (1991). Orchids of Malawi A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam Page 123. (Includes a picture). La Croix, I.F. & La Croix T.M. (1983). Orchids of Bvumbwe The Society of Malawi Journal 36(2) Page 17. Linder, H.P. & Kurzweil, H. (1999). Orchids of Southern Africa A.A. Balkema, Rotterdam, the Netherlands ISBN 90-5410-445-7 Pages 220 - 221. (Includes a picture). 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. McMurtry, D., Grobler, L., Grobler, J. & Burns, S. (2008). Field Guide to the ORCHIDS of Northern South Africa and Swaziland Umdaus Press, PO Box 11059 Hatfield 0028 South Africa Pages 182 - 183. (Includes a picture). Moriarty, A. (1975). Wild Flowers of Malawi Purnell & sons Cape Town. Pages 49 - 50. (Includes a picture). Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 119. Stewart, J. & Campbell, B. (1996). Orchids of Kenya Timber Press Inc, Portland Oregon, USA ISBN0-88192-357-5 Page 105. (Includes a picture). Summerhayes, V.S. (1964). African orchids XXIX Kew Bulletin 17(3) Pages 546 - 547. Williamson, G. (1977). The Orchids of South Central Africa J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd., London. Pages 84 - 85. also as Disa amblyopetala (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 hircicornis:

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Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Disa hircicornis
Flora of Malawi: Disa hircicornis
Flora of Mozambique: Disa hircicornis
Flora of Zambia: Disa hircicornis

External websites:

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