Disa erubescens

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid that grows in the ground. It grows 90 cm high. It has slender tubers 3 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. There are leaves on separate non flowering shoots and these are narrow and 30 cm long. The leaves on the flowering shoots aee sword shaped and 3-8 cm long. The flowering stalk can be 19 cm long. There are 3-10 flowers. They are arranged loosely. They are orange or red.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in upland poorly drained pastures. It grows between 1,800-2,400 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Burundi, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flower nectar, tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Liseku

Synonyms

Disa erubescens Rendle var. leucantha Schltr.;