Disperis virginalis pink flower

The dorsal sepal at the top of this Disperis virginalis flower, shaped somewhat like a tadpole or the helmet-shape common in orchid flowers, is nearly white. It can be up to 13 mm long.

The lateral petals adhering to the margins of the dorsal sepal are large, in-curving in their midsections, jointly to form the open hood over the flower centre with deflexed tip. These upper flower parts extend the lateral sepal landing pad for pollinators. In this flower the lateral petals and sepals are bright pink to pinkish purple on their inside surfaces.  Still, the specific name is virginalis suggesting white, as is often seen on flowers of the species, particularly in Zimbabwe.

The lateral sepals, obliquely obovate to oblong in shape, are joined near the base. These sepals are up to 10 mm long. They spread, angled out below the flower centre with sac-shaped spurs from their surfaces. The spurs, an opening on the inside, a bulge on the outside, are just visible in picture.

Pollinaria are dangling over the flower centre. The clawed white lip is erect, 6 mm long. It can have four lobed appendages with papillae upon it, or two lobes with split tips.

The diameter of the faintly sweetly fragrant flower is about 2 cm.

Bloomtime is summer (iNaturalist; www.orchidspecies.com; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).