Diuris brevis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Short-nosed donkey orchid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Diuris |
| Species: | D. brevis |
| Binomial name | |
| Diuris brevis | |
Diuris brevis, commonly known as short-nosed donkey orchid,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to a restricted area in the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and a flowering stem with up to four small yellow and brown flowers with a short labellum.
Diuris brevis is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of 200–300 mm (7.9–11.8 in) with two or three linear leaves 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.20–0.39 in) wide. There are up to four yellow and brown flowers, 20–25 mm (0.79–0.98 in) wide on slender pedicels 10–25 mm (0.39–0.98 in) long. The flowers have erect, widely-spreading, ear-like petals 14–18 mm (0.55–0.71 in) long, a dorsal sepal 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long and 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) wide, and narrowly oblong, reddish-brown lateral sepals 11–16 mm (0.43–0.63 in) long. The labellum has three lobes, the lateral ones widely spreading, and the middle lobe very short and flattish with down-curved edges and a smooth yellow callus. Flowering occurs from mid-August to September.[3][4]
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris brevis was first formally described in 2016 by David Jones and Christopher French in Australian Orchid Review from specimens they collected in the Kenwick Swamp in 1997.[5] The specific epithet (brevis) means "short ", referring to the mid-lobe of the labellum.[3]