Photo: Rogan Roth

Disperis woodii

This tiny orchid (less than 10cm tall) grows in damp grassland. It has two sharply pointed, dark green leaves with silvery veins and a single flower.  The flowers are usually pink and can be seen in the Midlands between March and August.

It was named after John Medley Wood, a botanist and plant collector who became the first curator of the Natal Herbarium.  Unfortunately, the habitat of this lovely orchid is under threat from urban development and agriculture. You have to be a pretty sharp-eyed flower hunter to find one in the wild. If you do, please report the sighting to Suvarna Parbhoo, CREW programme, KZN Node Manager - s.parbhoo@sanbi.org.za

Click on any of the links below to see another Dargle wildflower