Disa bracteata flowers

The flowers of Disa bracteata grow in a cylindrical, many-flowered spike. The triangular green bracts below the flowers are fleshy, erect, and longitudinally lined, each growing taller than the flower it subtends. In this photo these conspicuous bracts have shiny surface cells and purple margins. The bracts gave the plant its specific name, bracteata, which means like a thin metal plate. 

The flowers of D. bracteata are small and greenish, or reddish maroon. The sepals are usually tinged maroon, although yellow ones are sometimes seen. The median or dorsal sepal is rounded in a hood-shape (galeate) at the top of the flower. The dorsal sepal nearly covers the small, erect, lateral petals. The narrow, pendent lip is oblong and brown at the bottom of the flower. It may also be obovate in shape, yellow in colour. The floral spur at the back points downwards and does not exceed 1 cm in length.

Bloomtime is spring or early summer (Curtis-Scott, et al, 2020; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2015; Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Manning, 2007; Andrew, 2012; iNaturalist).