Diuris leopardina

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Diuris leopardina
Diuris leopardina.jpg
In Grampians 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. leopardina
Binomial name
Diuris leopardina

Diuris leopardina is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has between two or three grass-like leaves of different lengths, and a flowering stem with up to five pale yellow to butter yellow flowers with reddish brown or purple marks and patterns, and leopard-like spots on the back.

Contents

Description

Diuris leopardina is a tuberous, terrestrial herb with two or three erect, grass-like, linear leaves 30–150 mm (1.2–5.9 in) long and of different lengths. Up to five pale yellow to butter yellow flowers 15–25 mm (0.59–0.98 in) in diameter are borne on a flowering stem usually 100–300 mm (3.9–11.8 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is oblong, 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and 10–12 mm (0.39–0.47 in) wide, the lateral sepals linear, purplish brown with green edges, 10–15 mm (0.39–0.59 in) long and about 2 mm (0.079 in) wide. The petals are more or less erect, broadly egg-shaped to round, 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) long and 8–12 mm (0.31–0.47 in) wide. The labellum has three lobes, the middle lobe oblong, 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) long and 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) wide and the side lobes spread widely, pressed against the dorsal sepal, 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide. The callus consists of two purplish ridges. Flowering occurs from late September to November. [2]

This donkey orchid is similar to Diuris pardina but has fewer, taller flowers and a later flowering period. [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris leopardina was first formally described in 2017 by David Jones and Robert Bates in Australian Orchid Review from specimens collected near the Penola to Duradong road in 1963. [2] [3] The specific epithet (leopardina) means "marked like a leopard", referring to the spots on the back of the flowers and large patches on the dorsal sepal. [2]

Distribution and habitat

This species of orchid grows in open forest on the plains of south-eastern South Australia and nearby areas of Victoria. [2]

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 maculata, commonly known as the spotted doubletail, is a species of orchid endemic to New South Wales. It has up to two or three folded leaves and a flowering stem with up to eight yellow flowers with brown to blackish markings. It is similar to D. pardina which has darker flowers with larger brown markings.

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

Diuris protena, commonly known as northern golden moths, is a species of orchid which is endemic to Victoria. It has a tuft of between four and eight leaves at the base and up to three mostly yellow flowers with a few light-coloured marks. It is classed as "endangered" in Victoria.

<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 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 exitela, commonly called the Mount Moffat doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to central western Queensland. It has two linear leaves at its base, up to twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings and grows on sandstone cliffs and ridges.

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.

Diuris ochroma, commonly known as pale goat orchid, or pale golden moths is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has three or four leaves at its base and up to four slightly drooping pale yellow flowers with dark reddish purple streaks. It is an uncommon species found in two disjunct populations, in higher parts of each of New South Wales and Victoria.

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

Diuris oporina, commonly called the autumn donkey orchid or northern white donkeys tails is a species of orchid that is endemic to Queensland. It has a single tapering, linear leaf at its base and up to ten white flowers with mauve to purple markings. It grows in the drier parts of the tablelands in Far North Queensland.

<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.

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.

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

Diuris goonooensis, commonly known as Goonoo donkey orchid or western donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to western New South Wales. It has one or two linear leaves at its base and up to eight yellow flowers with brown markings on each part of the flower.

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

Diuris hazeliae, commonly known as yellow granite donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between two and four linear leaves and up to six bright yellow and reddish-brown flowers.

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 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.

References

  1. "Diuris leopardina". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jones, David L.; Bates, Robert J. (2017). "Two new species of Diuris from Winter-wet Flats in the South-east of South Australia and South-western Victoria". Australian Orchid Review. 82 (2): 49–50. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. "Duiris leopardina". APNI. Retrieved 4 July 2023.