Diuris ochroma

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Pale goat 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. ochroma
Binomial name
Diuris ochroma

Diuris ochroma, commonly known as pale goat orchid, [2] or pale golden moths [3] 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.

Contents

Description

Diuris ochroma is a tuberous, perennial herb with between three and four linear leaves 180–300 mm (7–10 in) long and 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Up to four slightly drooping pale yellow flowers with dark reddish purple streaks and about 25 mm (1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 250–400 mm (10–20 in) tall. The dorsal sepal projects forward and is egg-shaped, 10–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 14–19 mm (0.6–0.7 in) long, 1.5–3.5 mm (0.06–0.1 in) wide, lean downwards and are more or less parallel to each other. The petals are egg-shaped, 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) wide and spread apart from each other on a green to purplish stalk 6–8.5 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The labellum is 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is oblong, 8.5–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide with a raised ridge in its midline. The side lobes are oblong, about 3 mm (0.1 in) long, 1.5 mm (0.06 in) wide with dark reddish purple streaks. There are between two and four more or less parallel callus ridges in the lower part of the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in November and December. [2] [4] [5]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris ochroma was first formally described in 1994 by David Jones from a specimen collected near the Wonnangatta River and the description was published in Muelleria . [6] Jones stated that the specific epithet ochroma was derived from the Greek ochroma, and means "pale" or "wan", referring to the pale yellow flowers of this species. [4] In ancient Greek, ochroma (ὤχρωμα) is a noun meaning "pallor". [7]

Distribution and habitat

The pale goat orchid occurs in two disjunct areas, one in New South Wales and one in Victoria. The New South Wales population, estimated in 2008 to include about 130 plants, occurs on the Monaro Tableland. Two Victorian populations, estimated to contain a total of about eight thousand plants in 2010, are found in the Alpine National Park and on a roadside near Abbeyard. [3] [5] [8]

Conservation

Diuris ochroma is classed as "vulnerable" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 , as "endangered" in New South Wales under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and as "threatened" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 . The main threats to the species are weed invasion, grazing by native, feral and stock animals, habitat loss and disturbance and inappropriate fire regimes. [3] [8] [9]

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.

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

Diuris behrii, commonly known as golden cowslips, is a species of orchid which is endemic to southern continental Australia. It has between three and six grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with up to four drooping, yellow flowers with dark streaks on the labellum. The flowers appear between September and November in its native range.

<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 chryseopsis</i> Species of orchid

Diuris chryseopsis, commonly known as common golden moths or small snake orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a common and widespread species growing in woodland, often in colonies and has up to four drooping, golden-yellow flowers. It is similar to several other orchids and form hybrids with some other Diuris species.

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

Diuris eborensis is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to six grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with up to four pale yellowish flowers with dark reddish purple streaks.

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

Diuris basaltica, commonly known as little golden moths, or small golden moths is a species of orchid which is endemic to Victoria. The species has suffered a catastrophic reduction in range and distribution as a result of clearing for agriculture, then by urban expansion until only about four hundred plants remain in the wild.

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

Diuris punctata, commonly known as the purple donkey orchid is a species of orchid which is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has two grass-like leaves and up to ten purple or mauve flowers, often with darker, sometimes yellow marks. A yellow form from near Guyra is probably now extinct.

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

Diuris arenaria, commonly known as the Tomaree donkey orchid or sand doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to a very small area of New South Wales. It has two grass-like leaves and up to nine mauve or light purple and white flowers. It has a very limited distribution near Newcastle.

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.

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

Diuris lanceolata, commonly known as large golden moths, is a species of orchid that is endemic to Tasmania. It has between two and four leaves and up to three golden to orange-yellow flowers with a few dark streaks.

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

Diuris monticola, commonly known as highland golden moths, is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a common and widespread, late flowering species growing in grassland and woodland habitats at higher altitudes. It has a tuft of up to nine leaves at the base and up to four slightly drooping bright yellow flowers with dark streaks in the centre.

Diuris parvipetala, commonly known as slender purple donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It usually has two leaves at its base and up to nine relatively small, whitish to mauve flowers with purple markings. It is an uncommon species found in northern New South Wales and southern Queensland.

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

Diuris pedunculata, commonly known as the small snake orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It usually has two leaves at its base and one or two yellow and orange flowers with purple markings. It originally occurred in scattered populations between Tenterfield and the Hawkesbury River but because of habitat loss is now only known from the New England Tableland.

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

Diuris semilunulata, commonly known as the late leopard orchid, is a species of orchid that is native to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has two grass-like leaves and up to five orange-coloured flowers with brown and purple blotches.

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

Diuris tricolor, commonly known as the long-tailed donkey orchid or pine donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to three grass-like leaves and up to six orange-coloured to yellow flowers with white and purplish tints. The lateral sepals are unusually long.

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

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.

<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 systena, commonly known as New England golden moths, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. It has two or three grass-like, narrowly linear leaves and up to four lemon yellow and brownish-green flowers.

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

Diuris subalpina, commonly known as slender golden moths is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has two linear leaves and up to three bright yellow flowers with very fine, reddish streaks.

<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 ochroma". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. pp. 127–128. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 3 "Conservation advice Diuris ochroma pale golden moths orchid" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 Jones, David L. (1994). "New species of Orchidaceae from south-eastern Australia" (PDF). Muelleria. 8 (2): 182–184. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  5. 1 2 Stajsic, Val. "Diuris ochroma". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  6. "Duiris ochroma". APNI. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  7. Liddell, H.G. & Scott, R. (1940). A Greek-English Lexicon. Revised and augmented throughout by Sir Henry Stuart Jones with the assistance of Roderick McKenzie.Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  8. 1 2 "Action statement Pale Golden Moths Diuris ochroma" (PDF). Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  9. "Pale Golden Moths - profile". New South Wales Government Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 27 March 2018.