Harveya huttonii many-flowered

A Harveya huttonii plant can bear many flowers as in the photo. Clearly not all of them opening concurrently.

This was seen near the Sani Pass in KwaZulu-Natal. At home in grass and parasitising on grass roots but not looking like grass at all. But be assured: Nothing that flowers like this in green summer grass will be short of pollination partners. And no burden at all for hungry insects obliging to paint pollen on stigmas without even knowing! 

Apparently not all have to suffer and work hard to be fed. Parasitism is an option! But don't expect moonlight and roses everywhere. An insect might get eaten during the exercise and a parasite's host may die. Some parasites are popular as herbivore food. So, all contribute in this organism-eats-organism world.

H. huttonii also thrives in shade of forest conditions (Manning, 2009; Pooley, 1998; Visser, 1981; iNaturalist).