Disa rhodantha flower

The flower of Disa rhodantha has big sepals and small petals; six segments (or tepals) in all.

The median sepal, forming the ovoid hood of the flower, has a short fringe hanging over its opening and a short, pointed tip protruding forward. At its back the very conspicuous curving spur points up.

The lateral sepals are broad, attenuating to acutely pointed tips and curving up along the upper parts of their margins. The two, small lateral petals, darker pink in colour than the hood, are erect, visible inside the hood against its sides, flanking the pale column in the flower centre.

The narrow, linear lip usually hangs down, sometimes protruding forward, maybe for a short time only. The lip in picture is three-coloured: pink at its base, white in the centre and dark, purplish brown upon its tip.

The stem in the centre of the spike is pale, the bracts dull brown, obscuring the ovaries from view (Pooley, 1998; www.orchidspecies.com).