Disa graminifolia on Table Mountain

This blue disa was spotted on top of Table Mountain in March where several of them were in flower at the time. The plant annually grows a basal tuft of up to six grass-like leaves. They are dried out and brown by summer when the flowers appear. The specific name of graminifolia meaning grass-like, refers to these leaves. Apart from the basal leaves, a few short leaves grow along the stem.

The lip of the flower in picture is distinctly more violet purple than the bluish mauve lips often seen. This purple colour contrasts with the pale blue of the sepals and the dark blue (and green) on the petals. The lip is almost straight here with just the margins rolled under, unlike some other flower forms where the lip curves right down or even folds double.

An earlier name for this plant was Herschelia graminifolia (Bean and Johns, 2005; Manning, 2007; iSpot).