Disa is a genus in the family Orchidaceae and is mostly found in southern and eastern Africa. Species are deciduous or evergreen terrestrial plants with both tuberous and stoloniferous root systems. They are found from sea level to about 7000 feet. They grow in full sun to partial shade. They seem to require regardless of their growing conditions that their roots remain cool and moist. While there are about 200 different species known, only a few are commonly grown. The easily grown evergreen species include D. uniflora, D. cardinalis, D. aurata, D. tripetaloides, D. racemosa, D. venosa, and D. caulescens. Not much is known about the growth habit of most of these species.
Disa aconitoides is found in grassland and forest margins from the Southern Cape to Malawi. Flowers are white to pale mauve with darker spots and with a deeply hooded upper petal. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Disa brevicornis is found in grassland from Knysna in the southern Cape to Malawi. Flowers in a dense spike are brown and green. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken at Mt. Kubusie in the Amatola Mountains, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Disa crassicornis , a deciduous species found in damp grassland, or forest margins and rock ledges from the Eastern Cape, Transkei, Lesotho and Kwa Zulu-Natal, is summer growing. It has large sweetly scented white to cream flowers with purple or pink markings. It is a very attractive species, but difficult to cultivate. Photos by Cameron McMaster. The second was taken at Mt. Kubusie in the Amatola Mountains of the Eastern Cape.
Disa chrysostachya is a species found in damp grassland and marshy areas from Knysna to Mpumalanga. It is known as the red or yellow torch orchid and has a spike-like inflorescence of densely packed yellow to red or pink flowers. Photos by Cameron McMaster.
Disa lugens is found on sandstone slopes from the Cape peninsula to Grahamstown. Cream-green flowers appear in spring. Photo by Cameron McMaster.
Disa patula is found on montane grassland from the Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe. It has pale to bright pink flowers with purplish spots and a round pointed spur. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken on Mt. Kubusie in the Amatola Mountains, Eastern Cape.
Disa pulchra is a deciduous species from the Eastern Cape, Transkei and Kwa Zulu-Natal found on stony grassland. It is summer growing with bright pink flowers. Photos from Cameron McMaster taken in the Amatola Mountains of the Eastern Cape including a close-up showing the detail of a flower.
Disa sagittalus in found on rocks, along streams, growing in shade. Flowers are small, white to mauve with darker petals. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken at Mt.Thomas in the Amatola Mountains in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Disa stricta is found on grassy slopes and damp floodplains. Flowers are pink to lilac with a darker lip. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken on Mt. Thomas in the Eastern Cape in the Amatola Mountains, South Africa.
Disa uniflora or The Pride of Table Mountain is probably the most noteworthy example of the genus. It is an evergreen species from the western and southwestern Cape of South Africa. Growing to a height of around three feet, and commonly bearing up to six, 4 to 5 inch red, orange or pink flowers, it can be truly a gorgeous sight.
The first two photos are of Disa uniflora in a Kirstenbosch greenhouse. The next two show different striking cultivars. Photos by Rogan Roth.
Disa versicolor grows in grassland from the Eastern Cape to Angoloa and Zimbabwe. Flowers are pink in bud in a dense spike soon turning brown. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken on Mt. Thomas in the Eastern Cape in the Amatola Mountains, South Africa.
More information about Disa can be found on this 
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