Golden cowslips
Diuris behrii growing near Smythesdale
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. behrii
Binomial name
Diuris behrii

Diuris behrii, commonly known as golden cowslips,[2] is a species of orchid which is endemic to southern continental Australia. It has between three and six grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with up to four drooping, yellow flowers with dark streaks on the labellum. The flowers appear between September and November in its native range.

Description

Diuris behrii is a tuberous, perennial herb with between three and six grass-like, narrow linear leaves up to 200 mm (8 in) long. Up to four drooping, bright yellow flowers are borne on a flowering stem up to 500 mm (20 in) tall. The pedicel of each flower is enclosed in a bract. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, up to 17 mm (0.7 in) long and leans forwards. It has dark streaks similar to those on the labellum. The lateral sepals are greenish, linear to lance-shaped, up to 25 mm (1 in) long and turn downwards and parallel to each other. The petals spread sideways or droop and are narrow egg-shaped to elliptic, up to 25 mm (1 in) long on a green, stalk-like "claw". The labellum is up to 28 mm (1 in) long, often has brownish streaks, and has three lobes. The centre lobe is a broad wedge shape, often with irregular edges. The lateral lobes are small and oblong with toothed edges. There are two ridge-like calli about 5 mm (0.2 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to November.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris behrii was first formally described in 1847 by Diederich Franz Leonhard von Schlechtendal who published his description in Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde.[4][5] The specific epithet (behrii) honours the German-American botanist, Hans Hermann Behr.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The golden cowslip orchid grows in grassland and woodland mostly in western Victoria but is also found in south-eastern South Australia.[2] Plants previously included in D. behrii in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory are now segregated as D. amabilis.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Diuris behrii". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Jeanes, Jeff. "Diuris behrii". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Jones, David & Barbara Jones (2000). A Field Guide to the Native Orchids of Southern Australia. Bloomings Books. ISBN 1-876473-24-X.
  4. ↑ "Duiris behrii". APNI. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 Schlechtendal, Diederich F.L. (1847). "Sudaustralische Pflanzen. II. Bestimmung und Beschreibung der von Dr Behr in Sudaustralien gesammelten Pflanzen". Linnaea: ein Journal für die Botanik in ihrem ganzen Umfange, oder Beiträge zur Pflanzenkunde. 20: 572. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  6. ↑ Jones, David L. (2019). "Two new species of Diuris R.Br. from eastern Australia". Australian Orchid Review. 84 (6): 31–33. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
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