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; the sepals usually tinged maroon, although yellow ones are sometimes seen. The median or dorsal sepal is rounded in a hood-shape (galeate), nearly covering the 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.

Flowering occurs in spring or early summer (Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Manning, 2007; Andrew, 2012).