Rare terrestrial orchids on Mbeya Peak, Southern Tanzania

Abstract

Disa walteri, Satyrium aberrans, S. comptum and S. johnsonii are rare terrestrial orchids that co-occur and flower around the same time in southern Tanzania. We found the first three of these species on Mbeya Peak in March 2005, about 45 years after they were last recorded by botanists and present the first illustration of D. walteri in the form of pictures here. S. johnsonii could not be located and might be extinct on Mbeya Peak. Major habitat loss and the extraction of tubers for consumption or trade severely threaten these narrowly distributed species. Based on herbarium records and our field observations we provisionally assess D. walteri and S. johnsonii as Critically Endangered and S. aberrans and S. comptum as Endangered.

Journal of East African Natural History: a Journal of Biodiversity Vol. 94(2) 2005: 279-285