Brachycorythis ovata subsp. ovata in grassland

Some of the upper, cauline leaves are visible on this Brachycorythis ovata subsp. ovata plant that manages to present its flowers above the grass.

These often robust plants have densely crowded, spiralling leaves that sheath the stems and taper to acute tips. Leaf margins curve slightly down, while leaf size reaches 7 cm in length and 2,2 cm in width.

The leaves just continue to reduce in size further up as they morph into bracts among the flowers. The lowest flowers, in picture already wilted, may sometimes be hidden from view by their bracts (Pooley, 1998).