Disa fragrans flowers

The individual flower of Disa fragrans may be overlooked in favour of the global impression made by the abundance of open flowers in the dense inflorescence. A flower is typically only 8 mm in diameter.

The dorsal sepal at the top of the flower forms a narrow and shallow hood. A cylindrical spur, grown from the back of the hood, is conical at its base, then elongated and thin, pointing downwards. The spur becomes 5 mm to 10 mm long, reaching below the base of its flower.

The small lateral petals are erect inside the hood, curving in towards each other, then parallel near their tips. They are as yellow in picture as the outside surfaces of the lateral sepals and the dorsal sepal. The lateral sepals are oblong, sometimes spreading, here curving in beside the lip.

The lip below the flower centre is narrow, broadening to its tip in a spoon-shape, becoming up to 6 mm long (Pooley, 1998; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw).