Diuris aurea

Diuris aurea, commonly known as the golden donkey orchid, is a species of orchid which is endemic to Australia, growing in New South Wales and Queensland. It has one or two leaves at the base and two to five golden-yellow to orange flowers with some darker markings.

Golden donkey orchid
Georges River, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. aurea
Binomial name
Diuris aurea

Description

Diuris aurea is a tuberous, perennial, terrestrial herb, usually growing to a height of 30–60 cm (10–20 in). There are one or two linear-shaped leaves, each 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and channelled.[1]

There are between 2 and 5 golden yellow to orange flowers with some darker markings on the labellum and dorsal sepal. The flower is about 3.5 cm (1 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is broad egg-shaped, 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long and 7–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide and erect. The lateral sepals are linear to spoon-shaped, 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long, 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and hang below the flower, usually parallel to each other. The petals are erect and spread, ear-like above the flower. They are broadly egg-shaped, 7–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long, 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide on a dark coloured, stalk-like "claw", 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in). The labellum is 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and is divided into three lobes. The lateral lobes are narrow elliptic to wedge-shaped, 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide with a few teeth on their edge. The medial lobe is 7–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide with a ridge along its centre line and there is a two-part callus 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to November.[1]

Labelled image

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris aurea was first formally described in 1804 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in his book Exotic Botany (Volume 1).[2][3][4] The specific epithet (aurea) is derived from the Latin word aurum meaning "gold".[5]

Distribution and habitat

In New South Wales, golden donkey orchid grows between Marulan and the Hunter Valley, growing in grassy places in forest in areas near the coast.[1] It also occurs in Queensland where its conservation status is "of least concern".[6]

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References
  1. Jones, David L. "Diuris aurea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantNET. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  2. "Duiris aurea". APNI. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. Smith, James Edward (1804). Exotic Botany (Volume 1). London: R. Taylor and Co. pp. 14–15. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  4. Robinson, Les (2003). Field guide to the native plants of Sydney (3rd revised ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. ISBN 9780731812110.
  5. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 372.
  6. "Species profile—Diuris aurea (Orchidaceae)". Queensland Government Department of Environment, land and water. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
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