Disa patula var. patula

Disa patula var. patula is a terrestrial orchid growing from a tuberous rootstock to heights from 20 cm to 30 cm. Patula means spreading or extended, maybe referring to the lateral sepals that extend forwards and outwards, but more likely to the shape and position of both lip and spur. The leaves won't qualify as the reason for this name.

The plant is found in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, as well as in Lesotho and eSwatini. This distribution is more southerly than that of the other variety of D. patula, viz. var. transvaalensis, that reaches at least Zimbabwe as well.

The habitat is montane grassland. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century (iNaturalist; iSpot; https://www.botanikks.com; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw; http://redlist.sanbi.org).