Diuris byronensis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Byron Bay donkey orchid | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Diuris |
| Species: | D. byronensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Diuris byronensis | |
Diuris byronensis, commonly known as the Byron Bay donkey orchid,[3] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the Arakwal National Park in New South Wales. It has one or two grass-like leaves and up to five bright yellow flowers with blackish markings. It has a very limited distribution near Byron Bay.
Diuris byronensis is a tuberous, perennial herb with one or two leaves 100–250 mm (4–10 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between two and five bright yellow flowers with blackish markings, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 100–300 mm (4–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is more or less erect, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 20–34 mm (0.8–1 in) long, 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are held horizontally, often turned backwards with an elliptic blade 9–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide on a brown stalk 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The labellum is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and the side lobes are 1.5–2.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long and less than 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. There are two ridge-shaped calli 3 mm (0.1 in) long at the base of the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in August and September.[3]
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris byronensis was first formally described in 2003 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Byron Bay and the description was published in The Orchadian.[4]