Disa chrysostachya flower

The flower of Disa chrysostachya has a corolla comprising six segments, all elongated in somewhat oval, elliptic or oblong shapes. Above there is the median sepal, concave with a shallow boat-shape or helmet-shape and rounded tip; inside it are the two shorter lateral petals, obliquely shaped and sagging in somewhat half-hearted stance in the photo. The pendent spur emerges from the back of the median sepal, out of sight here and not one of the segments.

Below the flower centre there is the long, narrow lip or central petal hanging straight down, flanked by the pair of lateral sepals, broadly elliptic with rounded tips curving in.

The column holding the stigma, the erect anther and small rostellum is present in the flower centre. The bracts below the flowers have pointed, reflexed tips, not well displayed in this photo.

The specific name, chrysostachya is derived from the Greek words chrysos meaning gold and stachys meaning ear of grain, referring to the dense, orange-yellow inflorescence. Common names of torch orchid and soldier orchid exist, playing upon colour and the erect stance respectively (Liltved and Johnson, 2012).