Disa sagittalis

Disa sagittalis is a small orchid that grows from 7 cm to 30 cm in height. It is epilithic, i.e. it grows not in the ground, but on above-ground rock surfaces (as do most seaweeds).

The five to ten spreading to semi-erect basal leaves, arranged in rosette formation, are strap-shaped to narrowly elliptic and taper to pointed tips. The leaf margins are entire, the centre of the leaf being shallowly recessed in a longitudinal channel. The leaves become up to 9 cm long. The stem leaves are small, by flowering time reduced to dry, overlapping sheaths (up to 2,5 cm long).

The species distribution occurs in the southern Cape from Swellendam and Barrydale to the Eastern Cape around Port St Johns, extending from the coast to altitudes around 2000 m. The habitat is shady rocks near streams or seeps, but also away from water on drier sandstone cliffs. The species is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Pooley, 1998; www.redlist.sanbi.org).