Diuris semilunulata

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Late leopard orchid
Diuris semilunulata.jpg
Diuris semilunulata near Paddys River
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. semilunulata
Binomial name
Diuris semilunulata

Diuris semilunulata, commonly known as the late leopard orchid, [2] 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.

Contents

Side view of flower Diuris semilunulata (5085611682).jpg
Side view of flower

Description

Diuris semilunulata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves, each 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between three and five orange-coloured flowers with large brown and purple blotches, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–350 mm (8–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide and egg-shaped. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, turned downwards or backwards and crossed over each other. The petals are curved backwards, broadly egg-shaped to almost circular, 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide on a dark reddish brown stalk 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The labellum is 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is wedge-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide with a central ridge. The side lobes are 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. There are two raised callus ridges 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to December. [2] [3]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris semilunulata was first formally described in 1944 by Pearl Messmer and the description was published in Herman Rupp's book The Orchids of New South Wales . [4]

Distribution

The late leopard orchid mostly grows in shallow, rocky soil in open forest in the Australian Capital Territy, New South Wales south from Nerriga and possibly Victoria. [2] [3]

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 sulphurea</i> Species of orchid

Diuris sulphurea, commonly called the tiger orchid or hornet orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to three leaves, and a flowering stem with up to seven bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings.

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

Diuris venosa, commonly known as the veined doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has a few thin, erect leaves and up to four white to lilac-coloured flowers with deep red to purple blotches and lines.

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

Diuris alba, commonly called the white donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to three leaves, and a flowering stem with up to seven white flowers with purplish markings.

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

Diuris dendrobioides, commonly known as the wedge diuris, is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has one or two leaves and a flowering stem with up to six pale lilac-coloured to mauve flowers with darker markings.

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

Diuris praecox, commonly known as the early doubletail, Newcastle doubletail or rough doubletail is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has two or three grass-like leaves and up to ten light yellow flowers with a few dark brown marks. It is threatened by urbanisation.

<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.

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 palustris</i> Species of orchid

Diuris palustris, commonly known as the swamp doubletail or swamp diuris is a species of orchid which is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It has a tuft of between eight and ten twisted leaves and up to four yellow flowers with brown spots and blotches marks and blotches.

<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 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.

Diuris secundiflora, commonly known as the one-sided donkey orchid, is a poorly-known species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a single grass-like leaf and up to eight yellow flowers that are sometimes spotted and are all arranged on one side of the flowering stem.

Diuris striata is a poorly-known species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a two grass-like leaves and about four mauve flowers with dark purple streaks on the labellum.

<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.

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

Diuris suffusa, commonly known as mottled 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 cream-coloured to creamy-yellow flowers with light brown to reddish-brown markings.

References

  1. "Diuris semilunulata". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 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. 121. ISBN   1877069124.
  3. 1 2 Jones, David L. "Diuris semilunulata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. "Duiris semilunulata". APNI. Retrieved 6 April 2018.