Granite donkey orchid
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. chrysantha
Binomial name
Diuris chrysantha
Synonyms[1]
  • Diuris sp. (Jollys Falls J.Loveday 31)
  • Diuris sp. aff. chrysantha (North Coast)
  • Diuris aurea auct. non Sm.: Bailey, F.M. (1902)

Diuris chrysantha, commonly known as granite donkey orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has one or two leaves and up to seven deep golden to orange-coloured flowers with brown markings and occurs on the ranges and tablelands north from Tamworth to the Darling Downs.

Description

Diuris chrysantha is a tuberous, perennial herb with one or two linear leaves 120–360 mm (5–10 in) long, 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between two and seven deep golden to orange-coloured flowers with brown markings and 18–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 150–320 mm (6–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, egg-shaped, 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to spatula-shaped, 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are more or less circular in shape, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and wide on a brown stalk 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and held ear-like above the rest of the flower. The labellum is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is heart-shaped to wedge shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and the side lobes are egg-shaped, 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide. There are two callus ridges 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and spreading apart from each other near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to November.[2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris chrysantha was first formally described in 1987 by David Jones and Mark Clements from a specimen collected near Stanthorpe and the description was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland.[4] The specific epithet (chrysantha) is derived from the Ancient Greek words chrysos meaning "gold"[5]: 203  and anthos meaning "flower".[5]: 94 

Distribution and habitat

The granite donkey orchid grows in grassy forest on the ranges and tablelands north from Tamworth to the Darling Downs.[2][3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Diuris chrysantha". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 129. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. "Diuris chrysantha". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Duiris chrysantha". APNI. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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