Disperis cardiophora

As one of the granny bonnet orchids, a common name for Disperis flowers, the likeness in the hooded upper tepals of Disperis cardiophora is unmistakable. Alternatively, the helmet-shaped dorsal sepal, botanically called galeate, is foremost in conferring a definitive image upon these flowers. Preferring the grandmother over the soldier analogy may be a telling classifier of observers, probably correlated with age, gender and aggression.

The flowers of D. cardiophora are green and white, with pink tips on the lateral petals that cohere with the dorsal sepal. The large lateral sepals, positioned a bit lower spread widely, somewhat ovate and sickle-shaped (falcate). Note the conical, green sacs on the lateral sepal surfaces. Flowers are fairly densely clustered in the spike. The lip has a narrow, stalk-like base (unguiculate), as well as an appendage upon its surface (JSTOR; iSpot; www.pacificbulbsociety.org).