Large golden moths
Diuris lanceolata in north-west Tasmania
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. lanceolata
Binomial name
Diuris lanceolata
Synonyms[1]

Diuris pedunculata var. lanceolata (Lindl.) Domin

Diuris lanceolata, commonly known as large golden moths,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has between two and four leaves and up to three golden to orange-yellow flowers with a few dark streaks.

Description

Diuris lanceolata is a tuberous, perennial herb with between two and four narrow linear leaves 50–180 mm (2–7 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. Up to three golden yellow to orange-yellow flowers with a few dark streaks, 25–40 mm (1–2 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 60–250 mm (2–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, angled upwards, 9–17 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long, 7–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide with a tapered tip. The lateral sepals turn downwards below the horizontal, narrow lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 15–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and parallel to each other. The petals are held horizontally, egg-shaped to lance-shaped, 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and 5–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide on a green stalk 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The labellum is 14–22 mm (0.6–0.9 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped, 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 8.5–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. The side lobes are erect, oblong to wedge-shaped, 3–5.5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide with irregular edges. There are pimply callus ridges 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long at the base of the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from November to February.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris lanceolata was first formally described by John Lindley in his 1840 book The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants.[5] The specific epithet (lanceolata) is a Latin word meaning "spear-like".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Large golden moths is currently only known from one location on the north coast and one on the west coast of Tasmania, growing in wet grassland, in heath and in coastal scrub.[2][3]

Conservation

Diuris lanceolata is classified as "endangered" under the Australian government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and the Tasmanian government Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Diuris lanceolata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 5 August 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. 127. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 75–76.
  4. ↑ "Threatened species listing statement Large golden moths Diuris lanceolata" (PDF). Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  5. ↑ "Duiris lanceolata". APNI. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
  6. ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 460.
  7. ↑ "Threatened Tasmanian Orchids Flora Recovery Plan" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
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