A new species of orchid with beetroot-red leaves and a white flower has
been discovered growing just below the summit of the highest peak in the
Cederberg Mountains.

A member of the genus Disa, the orchid was first spotted and
photographed in 2004 by a CapeNature field ranger, Jonah Zimri, and two
of his colleagues during a survey on the upper slopes of the 2026-metre
high Sneeuberg.

A follow-up trip discovered a population of 35 to 40 of the flowers
above 1 800 metres, just below the summit.

In a statement on Wednesday, CapeNature said the new species was
currently being studied, and would be named Disa linderiana in honour of
local botanist Peter Linder, who had produced many scientific papers on
orchids in general and the genus Disa in particular.


The new orchid's location has surprised botanists.

"Strangely enough, most species in this group of disas flower only in
the first year after fire, yet this area last burned in 1998.

"Even more strange, the leaves of this new species are almost
beetroot-red, a feature sometimes seen in disas that flower soon after a
fire," Cape Nature said.

I don't suppose that Disa is any easier to grow than the others. In
fact, it's probably much harder to grow. ;-(

Steve



Reka wrote:

A new species of orchid with beetroot-red leaves and a white flower has
been discovered growing just below the summit of the highest peak in the
Cederberg Mountains.

A member of the genus Disa, the orchid was first spotted and
photographed in 2004 by a CapeNature field ranger, Jonah Zimri, and two
of his colleagues during a survey on the upper slopes of the 2026-metre
high Sneeuberg.

A follow-up trip discovered a population of 35 to 40 of the flowers
above 1 800 metres, just below the summit.

In a statement on Wednesday, CapeNature said the new species was
currently being studied, and would be named Disa linderiana in honour of
local botanist Peter Linder, who had produced many scientific papers on
orchids in general and the genus Disa in particular.


The new orchid's location has surprised botanists.

"Strangely enough, most species in this group of disas flower only in
the first year after fire, yet this area last burned in 1998.

"Even more strange, the leaves of this new species are almost
beetroot-red, a feature sometimes seen in disas that flower soon after a
fire," Cape Nature said.

Amazing that they are still finding orchids. Thanks for the news Reka.

--
Cheers Wendy

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Reka wrote:
A new species of orchid with beetroot-red leaves and a white flower
has been discovered growing just below the summit of the highest peak
in the Cederberg Mountains.

A member of the genus Disa, the orchid was first spotted and
photographed in 2004 by a CapeNature field ranger, Jonah Zimri, and
two of his colleagues during a survey on the upper slopes of the
2026-metre high Sneeuberg.

A follow-up trip discovered a population of 35 to 40 of the flowers
above 1 800 metres, just below the summit.

In a statement on Wednesday, CapeNature said the new species was
currently being studied, and would be named Disa linderiana in honour
of local botanist Peter Linder, who had produced many scientific
papers on orchids in general and the genus Disa in particular.


The new orchid's location has surprised botanists.

"Strangely enough, most species in this group of disas flower only in
the first year after fire, yet this area last burned in 1998.

"Even more strange, the leaves of this new species are almost
beetroot-red, a feature sometimes seen in disas that flower soon
after a fire," Cape Nature said.