Diuris insignis

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Dark bee 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. insignis
Binomial name
Diuris insignis

Diuris insignis, commonly known as dark bee orchid, [2] 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 five yellow flowers with many dark red markings.

Contents

Description

Diuris insignis is a tuberous, perennial herb with between two and six narrowly linear to thread-like leaves 60–150 mm (2.4–5.9 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. Up to five yellow flowers with dark red markings, 15–20 mm (0.59–0.79 in) long and wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–400 mm (7.9–15.7 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is narrowly egg-shaped to narrowly elliptic, 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long and 4.5–8.5 mm (0.18–0.33 in) wide. The lateral sepals are parallel or crossed near the tip, 9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) long, 1.5–3 mm (0.059–0.118 in) wide and project forwards. The petals are more or less erect or curved backwards and paddle-shaped, 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) wide on a reddish-brown stalk 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. The labellum is 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) long with three lobes - the centre lobe broadly wedge-shaped, 7.0–10.5 mm (0.28–0.41 in) long and wide. The side lobes spread widely apart and are oblong, 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide. There are two smooth, yellow calli ridges heavily marked with dark red near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and early November. [3] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris insignis was first formally described in 2013 by David Jones and Christopher J. French in Australian Orchid Review, from a specimen collected by Jones near Muir Highway, 17 km (11 mi) west of the Frankland River crossing in 1985. [6] The specific epithet (insignis) means "remarkable" or "notable", in reference to the appearance of the flowers. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Dark bee orchid grows in moist grassland and sedgeland in winter-wet flats and around swamps between Mount Barker and Manjimup in the Jarrah Forest bioregion of south-western Western Australia. [2] [3] [4]

Conservation

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

Related Research Articles

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

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.

<i>Diuris drummondii</i> Species of orchid endemic to South Western Australia

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 laxiflora</i> Species of orchid

Diuris laxiflora, commonly known as bee orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It has two to five narrowly linear leaves and up to six yellow flowers with brown markings. It is a small orchid, common within its range and about half the size of the common donkey orchid, Diuris corymbosa.

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

Diuris longifolia, commonly known as purple pansy orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has up to three linear leaves and up to seven purple and mauve flowers with yellowish markings from September to November.

<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.

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

Diuris heberlei, commonly known as 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 species to flower in Western Australia.

<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.

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

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.

<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 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 brockmanii</i> Species of orchid endemic to South Western Australia

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 inundata is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It usually has between three and six grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with one or two pale yellow to buttercup yellow flowers with a few rusty-red specks.

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

Diuris littoralis, commonly known as Green Range 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 up to six yellow, brown and mauve flowers from late July to early September.

Diuris pallescens, commonly known as pale 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 up to seven pale yellow flowers with light brown to reddish-brown markings.

<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.

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

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.

Diuris tinctoria, commonly known as sandplain 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 two to five pale yellow flowers suffused with light brown.

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

Diuris amabilis, commonly known as lovely moths, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has between four and eight grass-like leaves, a flowering stem with up to five yellow flowers with a few dark streaks, and a yellow to orange labellum. The flowers appear from late September to November.

References

  1. "Diuris insignis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Diuris insignis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  3. 1 2 Brown, Andrew; Dixon, Kingsley; French, Christopher; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 226. ISBN   9780980348149.
  4. 1 2 3 Jones, David L.; French, Christopher J. (2013). "The characterisation of Diuris laxiflora Lindl. and the description of four new allied species from Western Australia". Australian Orchid Review. 78 (1): 28–29. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
  5. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 480. ISBN   9780646562322.
  6. "Diuris insignis". APNI. Retrieved 29 June 2023.