Disa alticola is a slender terrestrial orchid, growing from a tuberous rootstock to heights from 7 cm to 17 cm.
The species distribution is in Mpumalanga, mainly known in the Steenkampsberge and near the Long Tom Pass.
The habitat is montane grassland in seasonally moist places at higher altitudes. The habitat population is deemed vulnerable early in the twenty first century, due to habitat degradation from overgrazing (iNaturalist; iSpot; Wikipedia; www.orchids.wikia.com; http://redlist.sanbi.org).