Diuris laevis

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Nanny goat orchid
Diuris laevis.jpg
Diuris laevis near Madfish Bay in the William Bay National Park
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. laevis
Binomial name
Diuris laevis

Diuris laevis, commonly known as the nanny goat orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Description

Diuris laevis is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and eight spirally twisted leaves 50–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. Up to eight pale yellow flowers usually with reddish brown markings, 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 18–30 mm (0.7–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–350 mm (8–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is angled upwards, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and tapered. The lateral sepals project forwards 17–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The petals are erect, spread apart from each other, egg-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide on a brown stalk 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The labellum is 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide. The side lobes are 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with toothed edges. There are two flattened callus ridges 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and November, more prolifically after fire. [2] [3] [4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris laevis was first formally described in 1882 by Robert FitzGerald and the description was published in The Gardeners' Chronicle . [5] [6] The specific epithet (laevis) is a Latin word meaning "smooth", "polished" or "bald". [7]

Distribution and habitat

The nanny goat orchid grows in winter-wet areas and in swamps, often in large numbers between Bunbury and Albany in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions. [2] [4] [8]

Conservation

Diuris laevis is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [8]

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.

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 corymbosa</i> Species of orchid

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.

<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 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 filifolia</i> Species of orchid

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.

<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 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, commonly known as Arrowsmith bee orchid, 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 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 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 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 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 insignis, commonly known as dark 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 five yellow flowers with many dark red 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.

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.

References

  1. "Diuris laevis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 29 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. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 136. ISBN   1877069124.
  4. 1 2 Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 496. ISBN   9780646562322.
  5. "Duiris laevis". APNI. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1882). "New Australian orchids". The Gardeners' Chronicle. 17: 495. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 653.
  8. 1 2 "Diuris laevis". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

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