South African Weed Orchid

South African Weed Orchid (Disa-bracteata)

If you act quick, you can help stop the spread of this emerging and highly invasive weed on the surf coast.

Identification: A robust, erect, fleshy perennial orchid up to 30cm high that emerges above ground each spring and summer from underground tubers. One plant grows up to 60 tiny flowers in a dense spike that resembles a brownish asparagus spear which forms above a rosette of 6–10 narrow leaves with purplish under-surfaces.

Fruits: Brown capsule containing thousands to millions of minute dust-like seeds forming now (November – December)

Removal: In order to correctly remove the plant, the flower/seed head, stem, leaf and especially the two (sometime three in advanced individuals) underground tubers must be dug out and removed.

In order to ensure plants are not spread after removal, the plants should be kept in a black secured airtight bag and left in the sun over summer to cook the tubers and seeds.

Note: African Onion Orchid looks similar to our native onion orchids (Microtis spp.), so ensure correct Identification before removal.South African Weed Orchid (Disa-bracteata)