Disa tripetaloides
This streamside species favours very similar habitats to D. uniflora, and the two species are sometimes found in close proximity to each other. However, the smaller D. tripetaloides has a much wider range, from the Western Cape (winter rainfall) along the southeastern coastal mountains into KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa's summer rainfall area. In the absence of fires the small Disa plants are out-competed by other bigger shrubs and grasses, and flowering is suppressed. The dorsal spotting of D. tripetaloides shows up to good effect in well-known hybrids such as D. Kewensis, D. Watsonii, D. Kewdior and others. The parentage of some hybrids derived from D. tripetaloides and D. uniflora is shown here. |
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