Disa chrysostachya

This Disa chrysostachya flower was photographed in January. The species is deciduous and terrestrial. Some detail of the flower structure can be observed here. The densely flowered, cylindrical spike is unbranched, a feature of the Disa genus. The flower low on the left, facing the camera, shows the curved narrow pink lip at the bottom of the flower, pointing downwards. At the top of this flower the median, upper sepal is hooded, fleshy, pale pink, semi-translucent. The smaller petals are enclosed within it. The two lateral sepals, positioned lower down on the sides are darker pink, broad and curving in with rounded tips.

Looking at some of the other flowers positioned sideways in the photo, the long cylindrical spurs angling obliquely downwards from the median or dorsal sepals are prominent. The sac of nectar, currency used for rewarding pollinators, is clearly visible at the end of each spur. The pollinia and stigma are in the flower centre, the pollinia at the top of the column, the yellow stigma just below it (Manning, 2009; www.plantzafrica.com).