Slender purple 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. parvipetala
Binomial name
Diuris parvipetala

Diuris parvipetala, commonly known as slender purple donkey orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has two leaves at its base and up to nine relatively small, whitish to mauve flowers with purple markings. It is an uncommon species found in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

Description

Diuris parvipetala is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves 200–300 mm (8–10 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Up to nine whitish to mauve flowers with purple markings and 17–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–450 mm (8–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is angled upwards, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and about 5 mm (0.2 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 30–45 mm (1–2 in) long, about 1 mm (0.04 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are oblong, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide and spread apart from each other on a purple-brown stalk 6–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The labellum is 5–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is spade-shaped, about 5 mm (0.2 in) long and 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide with its tip turned downwards. The side lobes are about 2 mm (0.08 in) long and 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There are between two thick, ridge-like calli 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long in the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The slender purple donkey orchid was first formally described in 1964 by Alick Dockrill who gave it the name Diuris punctata var. parvipetala. The description was published in The Victorian Naturalist from a specimen collected near Brigooda.[4][5] In 1987 David Jones and Mark Clements raised it to species status as Diuris parvipetalum.[6] The specific epithet (parvipetala) is derived from the Latin words parvus meaning "small"[7]: 590  and petalum meaning "leaf".[7]: 616 

Distribution and habitat

Diuris parvipetala grows with grasses and between rocks from about Mount Moffatt in Queensland to Emmaville in New South Wales.[2]

Conservation

Diuris ochroma is classed as "vulnerable" under the Queensland Government Nature Conservation Act 1992.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Diuris parvipetala". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 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. pp. 132–133. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Bostock, Peter; Mayhew, Melissa. "Diuris parvipetala". Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  4. ↑ "Duiris parvipetala". APNI. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Dockrill, Alick W. (1964). "The Eastern Australian orchid Diuris punctata". The Victorian Naturalist. 81: 137–138. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  6. ↑ "Duiris parvipetala". APNI. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
  7. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
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