Diuris sulphurea

Diuris sulphurea, commonly called the tiger orchid or hornet orchid,[2] 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.

Tiger orchid
Diuris sulphurea at Lawson
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. sulphurea
Binomial name
Diuris sulphurea
Synonyms

Diuris latifolia Rupp

Description

Diuris sulphurea is a tuberous, perennial herb with up to three linear to lance-shaped leaves 200–500 mm (8–20 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. Up to seven flowers 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–500 mm (8–20 in) tall. The flowers are bright yellow with a few prominent dark brown markings. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, erect or leaning forward, 15–20 mm (0.6–0.8 in) long and 9–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) wide. The lateral sepals are green or green and brown, linear, 16–25 mm (0.6–1 in) long, 1–3 mm (0.04–0.1 in) wide, turned downwards and usually parallel to each other. The petals are erect or turned backwards with an egg-shaped blade 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 7–11 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide on a dark brown stalk 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. The labellum is 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is spade-shaped, 8–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide and the side lobes are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long and 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. There is a ridge-shaped callus in the mid-line of the base of the labellum and extending about half way along. Flowering occurs from August to December.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris sulphurea was first formally described in 1810 by Robert Brown and the description was published in Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae.[5][6]

Distribution and habitat

The tiger orchid occurs in all states of Australia except Western Australia and the Northern Territory. It grows in forest, woodland, heath, grassland and coastal scrub.[2][3][7] In Victoria it often occurs with Diuris pardina and sometimes forms hybrids with that species.[4]

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References
  1. "Diuris sulphurea R.Br". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
  2. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 137. ISBN 1877069124.
  3. Jones, David L. "Diuris sulphurea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  4. Jeanes, Jeff. "Diuris sulphurea". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  5. "Duiris sulphurea". APNI. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  6. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae. London. p. 316. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
  7. Jones, David L. (1998). "Contributions to Tasmanian Orchidology". Australian Orchid Research. 3: 79.
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