Disa cornuta bracts over buds

The bracts growing among the flowers at the top of the flower spike dominate this young inflorescence of Disa cornuta, seen in Bainskloof during October. Lower bracts and leaves are already covered in black spots, while the upper flowers still have to show themselves among the abundance of bracts.

Imbricate overlap characterises the regular pattern in which the bracts are arranged like roof-tiles with attenuating orange tips, suggesting an old building in oriental style.

The hardship that has caused these leaves to blacken, may result in some flowers at the spike tip to underperform, judging from the early discoloration of the tiny, undeveloped bracts seen there (Liltved and Johnson, 2012).