Disa patula var. transvaalensis

Disa patula var. transvaalensis is a perennial, a terrestrial herb that grows annually from a tuberous rootstock. The erect flower stalk is covered in sword-shaped, stem-clasping, overlapping leaves that reduce in size upwards along the stem, grading into the bracts among the flowers. The stalk may stand 60 cm tall.

The distribution of the species is Limpopo, Mpumalanga and southwards to the Eastern Cape. The plant also grows in Zimbabwe and Swaziland. The habitat is exposed slopes in open grassland.

The species was called D. gerrardii and D. nervosa at different times in its botanically recorded history (Germishuizen and Fabian, 1982; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).