Disa porrecta in habitat

In the varied vegetation of its habitat, it is the flower colour of Disa porrecta that shouts over the competing greenery. The slender, long-stemmed inflorescences make their presence known in red and yellow; small bright spots for all those that can see red.

Bees and many other insects can’t see red, although they can see colour beyond the ultraviolet end of the spectrum. The yellow of the flowers may solve the pollination problem here.  In addition to flower colour, there is strong contrast against the muted greens and browns of the veld, probably enhancing visibility to butterfly pollinators from a distance (Euston-Brown and Kruger, 2023; Liltved and Johnson, 2012; Gledhill, 1981; iNaturalist).