Diuris cruenta

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Kemerton donkey orchid
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. cruenta
Binomial name
Diuris cruenta

Diuris cruenta, commonly known as Kemerton donkey orchid, [2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and a flowering stem with up to seven pale yellow and reddish-brown flowers, and is similar to D. tinctoria .

Contents

Description

Diuris cruenta is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of 250–400 mm (9.8–15.7 in) with two or three linear leaves 100–150 mm (3.9–5.9 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) wide. There are up to seven pale yellow to yellow flowers with red to reddish-brown markings, the flowers 25–35 mm (0.98–1.38 in) long and wide on pedicels 20–40 mm (0.79–1.57 in) long. The flowers have widely-spreading, ear-like, elliptic to broadly elliptic petals 13–20 mm (0.51–0.79 in) long, an egg-shaped dorsal sepal 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) wide, and narrowly oblong lateral sepals 14–20 mm (0.55–0.79 in) long and crossed. The labellum has three lobes, the lateral ones 7–10 mm (0.28–0.39 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide, and the middle lobe broadly wedge-shaped with down-curved edges and a yellow callus. Flowering occurs from late August to October. [3] [4] This donkey orchid is similar to D. tinctoria, but is shorter and has less colourful flowers than that species. [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris cruenta was first formally described in 2016 by David Jones and Christopher French in Australian Orchid Review from specimens they collected in the Kemerton Industrial Plant in 1995. [5] The specific epithet (cruenta) means "stained or spotted with blood ", referring to the colouration of the flowers. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Kemerton donkey orchid grows in Banksia woodland in sand in coastal areas from near Lake Clifton to Capel in the Swan Coastal Plain bioregion of south-western Western Australia. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

Diuris cruenta is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

Diuris corymbosa, commonly called the common donkey orchid or wallflower orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the purple pansy orchid but its flowers are yellow rather than purple or mauve and it flowers earlier in the year. It also resembles the winter donkey orchid but flowers later than that species. It is one of the most common orchid species in the Perth area, often forms extensive colonies and usually has numerous flowers on the one spike.

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

Diuris porrifolia, commonly called the small-flowered donkey orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three leaves and up to seven yellow flowers with brown or reddish markings. It is similar to the common donkey orchid but its flowers are smaller and it has a more easterly distribution.

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

Diuris drummondii, commonly known as the tall donkey orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is the tallest Diuris and is distinguished from the similar Diuris emarginata by its larger, more widely spaced flowers. The flowers are pale yellow with brown markings.

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

Diuris orientis, commonly called the wallflower orchid or eastern wallflower orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. Like others in the genus Diuris, it has two ear-like petals and is similar to the common donkey orchid of Western Australia with which it has been confused. This species is found in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania and its stalk-like petal "claw" is shorter in than those of D. corymbosa.

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

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.

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

Diuris concinna, commonly called the elegant donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has up to five linear leaves at its base and up to five pale yellow flowers with brown markings. It is found along the south coast, often growing in areas that are flooded in winter and flowering more prolifically after fire the previous summer.

Diuris eburnea is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and six linear leaves and up to eight pale yellow to cream-coloured flowers with reddish markings. It is only known from near the Arrowsmith River north of Eneabba.

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 heberlei, commonly called Heberle's donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has three to five linear leaves at its base and up to four bright yellow flowers with a reddish brown border around the labellum callus. It is found along the south coast and is one of the last Diuris to flower in Western Australia.

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

Diuris pulchella, commonly called the beautiful donkey orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-eastern part of the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to five bright yellow and mauve flowers described as "exquisite", "spectacular" and "attractive". It grows in shallow soil on granite outcrops near Esperance.

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

Diuris purdiei, commonly known as Purdie's donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between five and ten leaves at its base and up to eight pale yellow flowers with reddish-brown or purplish markings. It mainly grows in swampy areas and only flowers after fires the previous summer.

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

Diuris recurva, commonly called the mini donkey orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has one or two leaves at its base, up to six small pale yellow and brownish flowers and grows in winter-wet places between Badgingarra and Kalbarri.

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

Diuris setacea, commonly called the bristly donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a tuft of up to ten twisted leaves at its base and up to seven yellow flowers with a few brown markings. It grows in moist soil on granite outcrops and flowers much more prolifically after fire the previous summer.

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

Diuris tricolor, commonly known as the long-tailed donkey orchid or pine donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to three grass-like leaves and up to six orange-coloured to yellow flowers with white and purplish tints. The lateral sepals are unusually long.

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

Diuris jonesii, commonly known as Dunsborough donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has large, yellow, brown and mauve flowers and is found in near-coastal areas between Dunsborough and Augusta.

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

Diuris brachyscapa, commonly known as western wheatbelt donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and a flowering stem with up to four pale yellow flowers with brown markings.

Diuris brevis, commonly known as short-nosed donkey orchid, 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.

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

Diuris brockmanii, commonly known as south coast donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and a flowering stem with up to ten yellow flowers with reddish-brown markings.

Diuris brevifolia is a species of orchid that is endemic to South Australia. It usually has one or two grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with up to five bright yellow and reddish-brown flowers with purple stalks.

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

Diuris carecta, commonly known as sedge-loving donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and a tall flowering stem with up to six yellow and brown flowers with strongly curved lateral sepals.

References

  1. "Diuris cruenta". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Diuris cruenta". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Brockman, Garry (2013). Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia. Simon Nevill Publications. p. 213. ISBN   9780980348149.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L.; French, Christopher J. (2016). "Three new species in the Diuris corymbosa Lindley complex (Orchidaceae) from Western Australia". Australian Orchid Review. 81 (4): 32–34. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. "Diuris cruenta". APNI. Retrieved 24 June 2023.