Disa clavicornis bracts and spurs

Bracts and club-shaped spurs are clear to see on this young Disa clavicornis inflorescence that has opened only a couple of flowers so far. The densely flowered inflorescence of D. clavicornis may bear from 20 to 50 flowers.

The spurs are about 7 mm long. Their bulging tips are here much darker red than other flower parts. The specific adjective, clavicornis, refers to the club-shape of the spur sporting a conspicuous darker coloured bulge at its tip. The name is derived from the Latin words cornu meaning horn and clava meaning club.

The erect floral bracts are pale green here with acutely pointed tips, doing their best to shield their respective opening flowers from view in a teasing manner (iNaturalist; iSpot; www.orchidspecies.com).