Disperis fanniniae inflorescence

The inflorescence of Disperis fanniniae consists of a lax to dense spike of one to eight flowers. The large flowers (about 2,5 cm in diameter), are white flushed with pink or green.

Among the elaborate twists of the white lateral sepals in the photo, some of the cylindrical spur indentations in their surfaces are visible. During the budding phase these dents fitted over the rostellum arms forming part of the flower’s column, where the male and female reproductive components reside.

Orchid spurs may contain nectar (or floral oils) consumed by pollinators, but the spur-like pouches on Disperis sepals don’t relate to such secretions or pollination in any way.

Flowering happens during summer, continuing to mid-autumn (Pooley, 1998; Manning, 2009; iSpot).