Diuris callitrophila

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Oaklands doubletail
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. callitrophila
Binomial name
Diuris callitrophila

Diuris callitrophila, commonly known as the Oaklands doubletail [2] or Oaklands diuris, [3] is a species of orchid which is endemic to a small part of southern New South Wales. It has two or three leaves and up to nine whitish and mauve flowers with darker markings and unusually long lateral sepals.

Contents

Description

Diuris callitrophila is a tuberous, perennial herb with two or three leaves 150–350 mm (6–10 in) long, 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between three and nine white, purple or mauve flowers with darker markings, 25–35 mm (0.98–1.4 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–500 mm (10–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is more or less erect, 10–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 40–120 mm (2–5 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are ear-like and held erect above the rest of the flower, with an elliptic blade 6–16 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long and 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide. The petals have a dark-coloured stalk 3–7 mm (0.12–0.28 in) long that gradually expands towards the blade. The labellum is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is fan-shaped, 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide and the side lobes are 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide. There are two broad callus ridges 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long at the base of the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in November and December. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris callitrophila was first formally described in 2003 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Oaklands and the description was published in The Orchadian. [4]

Distribution and habitat

The Oaklands doubletail is only known from a few locations between Oaklands and Urana where it grows in small groups in grassy places in Callitris woodland. [2]

Conservation

Diuris callitrophila is classed as "endangered" under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act. The main threats to the species are its restricted distribution and small population, weed invasion, grazing and inappropriate fire regimes. Steps are being taken to conserve the species by collecting the seed and its associated fungus, growing the orchid and reintroducing it to its natural habitat. [3] [5]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Diuris aequalis</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Diuris orientis</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Diuris abbreviata</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Diuris dendrobioides</i> Species of orchid

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<i>Diuris praecox</i> Species of orchid

Diuris praecox, commonly known as the early doubletail, Newcastle doubletail or rough doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has two or three grass-like leaves and up to ten light yellow flowers with a few dark brown marks. It is threatened by urbanisation.

<i>Diuris punctata</i> Species of orchid

Diuris punctata, commonly known as the purple donkey orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has two grass-like leaves and up to ten purple or mauve flowers, often with darker, sometimes yellow marks. A yellow form from near Guyra is probably now extinct.

<i>Diuris arenaria</i> Species of orchid

Diuris arenaria, commonly known as the Tomaree donkey orchid or sand doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to a very small area of New South Wales. It has two grass-like leaves and up to nine mauve or light purple and white flowers. It has a very limited distribution near Newcastle.

Diuris exitela, commonly called the Mount Moffat doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to central western Queensland. It has two linear leaves at its base, up to twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings and grows on sandstone cliffs and ridges.

Diuris flavescens, commonly called the pale yellow doubletail or Wingham doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to a small area in New South Wales. It has two linear leaves at its base and up to five pale yellow flowers with dark brown markings. Fewer than 200 plants survive in grassy forest near Wingham.

Diuris fragrantissima, commonly called the fragrant doubletail or Sunshine diuris, is a species of orchid which is endemic to a small area to the west of Melbourne. It has two linear leaves at its base and up to twelve white flowers with mauve or pale purple markings with unusually long lateral sepals. Only about thirty plants survive in grassland near Sunshine.

Diuris luteola, commonly called the northern doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to Queensland. It has a single linear leaf at its base and up to six pale yellow flowers with a few brown markings. It grows in shallow, stony soil on tablelands in eastern parts of the state.

<i>Diuris oporina</i> Species of orchid

Diuris oporina, commonly called the autumn donkey orchid or northern white donkeys tails is a species of orchid that is endemic to Queensland. It has a single tapering, linear leaf at its base and up to ten white flowers with mauve to purple markings. It grows in the drier parts of the tablelands in Far North Queensland.

<i>Diuris palustris</i> Species of orchid

Diuris palustris, commonly known as the swamp doubletail or swamp diuris is a species of orchid which is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a tuft of between eight and ten twisted leaves and up to four yellow flowers with brown spots and blotches marks and blotches.

Diuris parvipetala, commonly known as slender purple donkey orchid, 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.

<i>Diuris platichila</i> Species of orchid

Diuris platichila, commonly known as the Blue Mountains doubletail, is a species of orchid that is endemic to a few isolated places in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. It has two leaves and up to eight yellow flowers with dark markings on the dorsal sepal and labellum. It has relatively long, thin lateral sepals and the central lobe of the labellum is wedge-shaped. It forms hybrids with other species of Diuris.

Diuris striata is a poorly-known species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a two grass-like leaves and about four mauve flowers with dark purple streaks on the labellum.

Diuris unica is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has only one grass-like leaf at its base and up to eight bright, lemon-yellow flowers with a few dark markings. It is similar to D. chrysantha but flowers much earlier than that species and has only a single leaf rather than two.

References

  1. "Diuris callitrophila". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 June 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. 130–131. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 "The Oaklands Diuris Orchid: steps to securing its future". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  4. "Duiris callitrophila". APNI. Retrieved 15 March 2018.
  5. "Oaklands Diuris, Diuris callitrophila" (PDF). NewSouth Wales Government, Murray Local Land Services. Retrieved 15 March 2018.