Disa chrysostachya spike contrasting with grassy plants

The flowering spike of Disa chrysostachya rises prominently above the surrounding grassland. The tip of one of the tightly overlapping broad leaves that sheathe the stem can just be seen below the flowers. Broad leaves are unusual in grassland. They might interest herbivores.

Some disas have separate, sterile stems without flowers where the leaves grow, or where more leaves grow.