Botanical name

Disa graminiflora

Other names

Blue disa, previously Herschelianthe graminiflora

Family

Orchidaceae

Dimensions

A small perennial, reappearing annually after a dormant period from a tuberous rootstock

Description of stem

Description of leaves

Narrow leaves from the base, semi-erect

Description of flowers

Racemes of blue flowers appearing in summer; light blue sepals, the dorsal one darker blue towards the apex, pointed rather than hooded; the lip white at the centre, bright to dark blue at the edges, recurving, comparatively big; the pollinia in front of the dorsal sepal as two greenish yellow protuberances drooping sideways above the dark blue petals; the stigma white, central

Desciption of seed/fruit

Description of roots

Tuberoids, growing shoots that form new root tubers

Variation

Some flower colour variation

Propagation and cultivation

Can be grown from seed, germination slow; humidity and temperature controlled in greenhouse conditions; Disa Society at +27 (0)21 913 6902 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tolerances

Can withstand summer heat, provided that the roots remain moist

Uses

A delightful sighting in nature; plants may not be removed; a rare garden subject, grown from seed in special, carefully controlled circumstances

Ecological rarity

Very small areas that provide the required conditions of the natural habitat

Pests and diseases

Other

The Orchid Conservation Alliance creates orchid habitat reserves in the Equadorian Andes, See www.orchidconservationalliance.org ; on www.orchidspecies.com over 6000 orchid species in 611 genera are listed; a natural hybrid occurs between D. graminiflora and D. ferruginea, called D. vogelpoelii; blue disas include D. hians, lonicornu and maculata; find blue disa photos on www.disas.com/louis_vogelpoel_02.htm for blue disa pictures

Location

Grows in cool, wet fynbos areas close to rivers, often in wet moss near waterfalls; may appear in endemic areas after veld fires

Distribution (SA provinces)

Western Cape

Country

South Africa