Disperis renibractea flower

The flower of Disperis renibractea has a broad and shallow dorsal sepal, forming the flower’s hood in combination with the two lateral petals flanking it. This sepal becomes about 17 mm tall. The inside of the hood is visible when facing the flower, in the photo displaying the spectacular purple spots often seen in the lateral petals.

The spreading lateral sepals are about 7 mm long. They curve elaborately, in the photo the out-curving green tips of the spurs sunken into their surfaces adding to the embellishment.

The less conspicuous white and green lip of the flower is oblong and flexed up in the centre, the rostellum arms beside it and the lip appendage hidden.

The floral bracts subtending the flowers are short and rounded to kidney-shaped, folding in along the central axis. The specific name, renibractea, reflects this shape. The bract in picture has a red margin and shiny, pellucid surface cells (Pooley, 1998).

Or, just kidding: This photo has nothing to do with an orchid! It is really a picture copied from an old book of Japanese folklore.