Diuris conspicillata
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Spectacled donkey orchid | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Diuris conspicillata growing on Frenchmans Peak in the Cape Le Grand National Park | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Diuris |
| Species: | D. conspicillata |
| Binomial name | |
| Diuris conspicillata | |
Diuris conspicillata, commonly called the spectacled donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is an uncommon species, only found on two coastal granite outcrops, growing in shallow soil pockets.
Diuris conspicillata is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of 150–300 mm (6–10 in) with two or three leaves emerging at the base, each 100–200 mm (4–8 in) long and 5–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. There are up to six yellow and brown flowers 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long 20–40 mm (0.8–2 in) wide. The flowers have broad, ear-like petals, a short, relatively wide dorsal sepal and hanging, crossed lateral sepals. The labellum is a narrow wedge shape and has three lobes, the lateral ones broad and spreading, and the middle lobe short and flattened. Flowering occurs from August to September.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris conspicillata was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Review.[4] The specific epithet (conspicillata) refers to the markings on the labellum which give the impression of spectacles.[2]