Tall 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. drummondii |
Binomial name | |
Diuris drummondii | |
Diuris drummondii, commonly known as the tall donkey orchid [2] 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.
Diuris drummondii is a tuberous, perennial herb, growing to a height of 50–1,500 mm (2–60 in) with between three and six leaves, each 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. There are between three and seven pale yellow flowers with brown markings and 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is erect, 18–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. The lateral sepals are 18–24 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are held ear-like above the rest of the flower with the blade 17–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) long and 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide on a blackish stalk 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The labellum is 17–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, 15–18 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long and 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide and the side lobes are 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. There are two parallel callus ridges 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and edged with brown in the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from November to January and is enhanced by fire the previous summer followed by heavy winter rains. [2] [3] [4]
Diuris drummondii was first formally described in 1840 by John Lindley and the description was published in A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony as an appendix to Edwards's Botanical Register . [5] The specific epithet (drummondii) honours James Drummond who collected the type specimen. [3]
The tall donkey orchid grows in winter-wet depressions that retain at least some moisture until summer, and often flowers with its base submerged. It is found between Northampton and Mount Barker in the Avon Wheatbelt, Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren biogeographic regions. [4] [6]
Diuris drummondii is classified as "Threatened Flora (Declared Rare Flora — Extant)" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [6]
Diuris brumalis, commonly known as the winter donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is one of the first species of donkey orchid to flower in Western Australia each year and its flowers have been shown to attract the same insects that pollinate other species, but without offering a food reward.
Diuris corymbosa, commonly called 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.
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.
Diuris filifolia, commonly known as the cat's face orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is one of the rarest Diuris in Western Australia, sometimes flowering in large numbers but only after hot summer fires.
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 amplissima, commonly known as giant donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a rare species and the largest Diuris in Western Australia. It has two or three leaves at its base and up to seven purple and dull yellowish-brown flowers on a tall flowering stem.
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 emarginata, commonly called the late donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has up to six leaves and a flowering stem with up to eight yellow flowers with brown markings but only after fires the previous summer.
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.
Diuris laevis, commonly known as the nanny goat orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and eight leaves and up to six pale yellow flowers which usually have reddish-brown markings. It has an unusually short dorsal sepal and wide labellum and is relatively common between Bunbury and Albany.
Diuris micrantha, commonly called the dwarf bee orchid or tiny bee orchid, is a rare species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has four to six linear leaves at its base and up to six yellow flowers with reddish brown markings. It grows in swampy places south of Perth.
Diuris picta, commonly called the granite bee orchid or granite donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between three and five leaves at its base and up to eight creamy-white to yellow flowers with brownish purple markings. It grows on granite outcrops between Menzies and Lake King.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 cruenta, commonly known as Kemerton 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 seven pale yellow and reddish-brown flowers, and is similar to D. tinctoria.
Diuris septentrionalis, commonly known as northern bee orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and up to five yellow flowers with dark red markings.