Goat's horn disa
Disa hircicornis

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid that grows in the soil. It grows 85 cm high. It has small fleshy tubers. These are 1.5 cm long by 0.8 cm wide. There are often 2 leaves on non flowering shoots and these are narrow and 30 cm long. They are folded along their length. The leaves on the flowering shoots are sword shaped and 5-20 cm long. They are red at the base. The flowering stalk is 18 cm long. The flowers are pink, brown, red or purple.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in damp grassy places. It usually grows between 1,500-1,800 m above sea level but can be up to 2,700 m.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Cameroon, Central Africa, Congo, East Africa, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Southern Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Tuber, root

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Disa amblyopetala Schltr.; Disa culveri Schltr.; Disa laeta Rchb. f.;