Diuris eburnea

Last updated

Arrowsmith bee orchid
Status DECF P1.svg
Priority One — Poorly Known Taxa (DEC)
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. eburnea
Binomial name
Diuris eburnea

Diuris eburnea, commonly known as Arrowsmith bee orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Diuris eburnea is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and six linear leaves 120–200 mm (5–8 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Up to eight pale yellow to cream-coloured flowers with reddish markings, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 12–15 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–450 mm (8–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 9–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 4–6.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and curves upwards. The lateral sepals are oblong, 9–14 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide and turned downwards, parallel to or crossed over each other. The petals are more or less erect and spread apart from each other, egg-shaped to elliptic, 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide on a purplish brown stalk 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long. The labellum is 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, turns slightly downwards and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped to wedge-shaped, 8–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and the side lobes are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 4.5–6 mm (0.18–0.24 in) long and about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide. There are two callus ridges 4.5 mm (0.2 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and November. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris eburnea was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected north of Eneabba and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research. [5] The specific epithet (eburnea) is a Latin word meaning "of ivory", [6] referring to the colour of the flowers of this orchid. [3]

Distribution and habitat

Arrowsmith bee orchid grows in winter-wet areas on the banks of the Arrowsmith River in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region. [2] [3] [4] [7]

Conservation

Diuris eburnea is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, [7] meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk. [8]

Related Research Articles

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

Diuris pardina, commonly known as the leopard orchid or leopard doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has two or three grass-like leaves and up to ten yellow flowers with reddish-brown marks and blotches.

Diuris carinata, commonly known as the tall bee orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and six leaves and up to seven large, bright yellow flowers with reddish-brown markings.

<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 magnifica</i> Species of orchid

Diuris magnifica, commonly called the large pansy orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has large, colourful flowers and is common in a narrow range near the coast around Perth, often occurring with the similar but smaller Diuris corymbosa.

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.

<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 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.

Diuris immaculata, commonly known as the little Esperance bee orchid, is a rare species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and six leaves and up to three golden yellow flowers without markings. It is only known from near Esperance.

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

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 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 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.

<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 porphyrochila</i> Species of orchid

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

Diuris segregata, commonly known as Northampton bee orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between two and six narrowly linear to thread-like leaves and up to three yellow flowers, usually with dark red markings.

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

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.

References

  1. "Diuris eburnea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 224. ISBN   9780980296457.
  3. 1 2 3 Jones, David L. (2006). "Miscellaneous new species of Australian Orchidaceae". Australian Orchid Research. 5: 78.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 477. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. "Duiris eburnea". APNI. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
  6. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 294.
  7. 1 2 "Diuris eburnea". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  8. "Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna" (PDF). Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife. Retrieved 27 July 2019.