Diuris
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''Diuris'', commonly known as donkey orchids, bee orchids, nanny goat orchids or pansy orchids, is a
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of more than sixty species of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
s in the orchid family,
Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family (biology), family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan plants that ...
and is
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
to
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, apart from one species endemic to
Timor Timor (, , ) is an island at the southern end of Maritime Southeast Asia, in the north of the Timor Sea. The island is Indonesia–Timor-Leste border, divided between the sovereign states of Timor-Leste in the eastern part and Indonesia in the ...
. The name "''Diuris''" refers to the hanging
sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...
s but the common name "donkey orchid", derives from the ear-like
petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...
s common to all species. Many have mainly yellow flowers with darker markings and are thought to mimic nectar-producing flowers which open at the same time.


Description

Orchids in the genus ''Diuris'' are
terrestrial Terrestrial refers to things related to land or the planet Earth, as opposed to extraterrestrial. Terrestrial may also refer to: * Terrestrial animal, an animal that lives on land opposed to living in water, or sometimes an animal that lives on o ...
,
perennial In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
,
deciduous In the fields of horticulture and botany, the term deciduous () means "falling off at maturity" and "tending to fall off", in reference to trees and shrubs that seasonally shed Leaf, leaves, usually in the autumn; to the shedding of petals, aft ...
,
sympodial In botany, sympodial growth is a bifurcating branching pattern where one branch develops more strongly than the other, resulting in the stronger branches forming the primary shoot and the weaker branches appearing laterally. A sympodium, als ...
herbs Herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnish (food), garnishing food, for medicinal purposes, or for fragrances. Culinary use typi ...
, usually with a few inconspicuous, fine roots and one or two
tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...
s lacking a protective sheath. The stem is short, erect and unbranched with a leaf-like
cataphyll In plant morphology, a cataphyll (sometimes also called a ''cataphyllum'' or cataphyll leafJackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Derivation and Accent; Published by Gerald Duckworth & Co. London, 4th ed 1928) is a reduce ...
at each
node In general, a node is a localized swelling (a "knot") or a point of intersection (a vertex). Node may refer to: In mathematics * Vertex (graph theory), a vertex in a mathematical graph *Vertex (geometry), a point where two or more curves, lines ...
. There are between one and ten grass-like leaves at the base of the plant. The
inflorescence In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
is a
raceme A raceme () or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate growth, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are ...
with a few to many brightly coloured, resupinate flowers on a wiry stalk. The
dorsal Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to: * Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism * Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage The fus ...
sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 Etymology The term ''sepalum'' ...
is shorter but wider than two
lateral Lateral is a geometric term of location which may also refer to: Biology and healthcare * Lateral (anatomy), a term of location meaning "towards the side" * Lateral cricoarytenoid muscle, an intrinsic muscle of the larynx * Lateral release ( ...
sepals and forms a hood over the
column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member ...
. The long, narrow, lateral sepals hang like a pair of tails below the labellum. The petals are different from the sepals, having a narrow base with the main part widely expanded, in the form of donkey ears. As is usual in orchids, one
petal Petals are modified leaves that form an inner whorl surrounding the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly coloured or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corol ...
is highly modified as the central labellum, differing markedly from the other petals and sepals. The labellum has three distinct parts with the central part folded and the lateral parts arranged on either side of the column, often spreading widely, sometimes with a scalloped or wavy edge. The column is short with narrow wings. Flowering time depends on the species but most species flower between September and November. One of the earliest to flower, '' D. brumalis'' flowers in June and '' D. emarginata'' sometimes flowers as late as January. The fruit which follows flowering is a thin-walled,
dehiscent Dehiscence is the splitting of a mature plant structure along a built-in line of weakness to release its contents. This is common among fruits, anthers and sporangia. Sometimes this involves the complete detachment of a part. Structures that op ...
capsule containing up to 100 winged seeds.


Taxonomy and naming

The genus ''Diuris'' was first formally described in 1798 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in ''
Transactions of the Linnean Society of London The Linnean Society of London is a learned society dedicated to the study and dissemination of information concerning natural history, evolution, and taxonomy. It possesses several important biological specimen, manuscript and literature collec ...
''. Smith did not nominate a
type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...
. The common name "donkey orchid" refers to the ear-like petals. The scientific name is derived from the Greek ''dis'' meaning 'double' and ''oura'', 'tail', referring to the two narrow lateral sepals.


Distribution and habitat

Donkey orchids occur in all Australian states, but not the
Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...
with one species ('' D. fryana'') found in Timor. In New South Wales, most species grow among grasses in sclerophyll forest. In Western Australia, most grow in moist places such as coastal swamps or near granite outcrops. Donkey orchids usually grow as individual plants or in loose colonies and most occur at low altitudes, although '' D. monticola'' grows at up to . Some species flower more profusely after fire and '' D. purdiei'' will only flower following a summer fire. In fire-prone areas, the tubers lie dormant in the soil and are not harmed by bushfires.


Ecology

Donkey orchids are coloured like flowers that attract pollinating insects such as wasps, bees and flies but no ''Diuris'' produce nectar and very few have a scent. It is thought that ''Diuris'' species deceive insects by falsely advertising the presence of food and this hypothesis is supported by experiments on only one species, '' D. pardina''.


Gallery

Image:Diuris behrii.jpg, '' Diuris behrii'' Image:Diuris drummondii 280403.jpg, '' Diuris drummondii'' Image:Donkey orchid gnangarra 01.jpg, '' Diuris brumalis'' Image:Diuris pardina.jpg, '' Diuris pardina'' Image:Diuris aequalis (2042061103).jpg, '' Diuris aequalis'' Image:Diuris orientis - Flickr 003.jpg, '' Diuris orientis'' Image:Diuris sulphurea.jpg, '' Diuris sulphurea'' Image:Diuris venosa (8290269452) - cropped.jpg, '' Diuris venosa''


Species

The following is a list of ''Diuris'' species accepted by the
Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...
as of September: * '' Diuris abbreviata'' F.Muell. ex Benth – lemon doubletail ( N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris aequalis'' F.Muell. ex Fitzg. – buttercup doubletail (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris alba'' R.Br. – white donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris amabilis'' D.L.Jones – lovely moths (N.S.W., A.C.T.) * '' Diuris amplissima'' D.L.Jones – giant donkey orchid ( W.A.) * '' Diuris arenaria'' D.L.Jones – Tomaree donkey orchid, sand doubletail (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris aurea'' Sm. – golden donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris basaltica'' D.L.Jones – little golden moths, small golden moths ( Vic.) * '' Diuris behrii'' Schltdl. – golden cowslips ( S.A.) * '' Diuris blakneyae'' (F.M.Bailey) D.L.Jones (Qld.) * '' Diuris brachyscapa'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – western wheatbelt donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris bracteata'' Fitzg. (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris brevifolia'' R.S.Rogers – short-leaved donkey orchid (S.A.) * '' Diuris brevis'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – short-nosed donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris brevissima'' Fitzg. ex Nicholls (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris brockmanii'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – south coast donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris brumalis'' D.L.Jones – winter donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris byronensis'' D.L.Jones – Byron Bay donkey orchid (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris calcicola'' R.J.Bates (S.A.) * '' Diuris callitrophila'' D.L.Jones – Oaklands doubletail, Oaklands diuris (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris carecta'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – sedge-loving donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris carinata''
Lindl John Lindley FRS (5 February 1799 – 1 November 1865) was an English botanist, gardener and orchidologist. Early years Born in Catton, near Norwich, England, John Lindley was one of four children of George and Mary Lindley. George Lindley ...
– tall bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris chrysantha'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – granite donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris chryseopsis'' D.L.Jones – common golden moths, small snake orchid (N.S.W., Vic., Tas. S.A.) * '' Diuris concinna'' D.L.Jones – elegant donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris conspicillata'' D.L.Jones – spectacled donkey orchid (W.A.) * ''
Diuris corymbosa ''Diuris corymbosa'', commonly called common donkey orchid or wallflower orchid, is a species of orchid which is Endemism, endemic to the Southwest Australia, south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the purple pansy orchid (''Diuris lo ...
'' Lindl. – common donkey orchid, wallflower orchid (W.A., S.A., Vic., N.S.W.) * '' Diuris cruenta'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Kemerton donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris cuneata'' Fitzg. * '' Diuris curta'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris decrementum'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – common bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris disposita'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris drummondii'' Lindl. – tall donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris eborensis'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris eburnea'' D.L.Jones (W.A.) * '' Diuris emarginata'' R.Br. – tall donkey orchid ** ''Diuris emarginata'' var. ''emarginata'' (W.A.) ** ''Diuris emarginata'' var. ''pauciflora'' A.S.George * '' Diuris exitela'' D.L.Jones – Mount Moffat doubletail (Qld.) * '' Diuris filifolia'' Lindl. – cat's face orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris flavescens'' D.L.Jones – pale yellow doubletail, Wingham doubletail (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris fragrantissima'' D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – fragrant doubletail, Sunshine diuris (Vic.) * '' Diuris fryana'' Ridl. (
Lesser Sunda Islands The Lesser Sunda Islands (, , ), now known as Nusa Tenggara Islands (, or "Southeast Islands"), are an archipelago in the Indonesian archipelago. Most of the Lesser Sunda Islands are located within the Wallacea region, except for the Bali pro ...
) * '' Diuris fucosa'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W., Vic.) * '' Diuris gregaria'' D.L.Jones – clumping golden moths (Vic.) * '' Diuris hazeliae'' D.L.Jones – yellow granite donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris heberlei'' D.L.Jones – Heberle's donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris immaculata'' D.L.Jones – little Esperance bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris inopinus'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris insignis'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – dark bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris inundata'' D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (S.A.) * '' Diuris jonesii'' C.J.French & G.Brockman – Dunsborough donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris laevis'' Fitzg. – nannygoat orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris lanceolata'' Lindl. – large golden moths (N.S.W., Vic., S.A., Tas.) * '' Diuris laxiflora'' Lindl. – bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris leopardina'' D.L.Jones & R.J.Bates (S.A.) * '' Diuris littoralis'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Green Range donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris longifolia'' R.Br. – purple pansy orchid, common donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris luteola'' D.L.Jones & B.Gray – northern doubletail (Qld.) * '' Diuris maculata'' Sm. – spotted doubletail (Qld., N.S.W., Vic., S.A., Tas.) * '' Diuris magnifica'' D.L.Jones – large pansy orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris micrantha'' D.L.Jones – dwarf bee orchid, tiny bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris monticola '' D.L.Jones – highland golden moths (N.S.W., Vic., Tas.) * '' Diuris nigromontana'' D.L.Jones – Black Mountain leopard orchid ( A.C.T.) * '' Diuris ochroma'' D.L.Jones – pale goat orchid, pale golden moths (N.S.W., Vic.) * '' Diuris oporina'' D.L.Jones – autumn donkey orchid, northern white donkeys tails (Qld.) * '' Diuris oraria'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – northern coastal donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris orientis'' D.L.Jones – eastern donkey orchid, wallflower donkey orchid (N.S.W., S.A., Vic., Tas.) * '' Diuris ostrina'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Darling Scarp donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris pallescens'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – pale donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris palustris'' Lindl. – swamp doubletail, swamp diuris (S.A., Vic., Tas.) * '' Diuris pardina'' Lindl. – leopard orchid, leopard doubletail (N.S.W., S.A., Vic., Tas.) * '' Diuris parvipetala'' (Dockrill) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. – slender purple donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris pedunculata'' R.Br. – small snake orchid (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris perialla'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – early donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris picta''
J.Drumm. James Drummond (late 1786 or early 1787 – 26 March 1863) was an Australian botanist and naturalist who was an early settler in Western Australia. Early life James Drummond was born in Inverarity, near Forfar, Angus, Scotland, the el ...
– granite bee orchid, granite donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris platichila'' Fitzg. – Blue Mountains doubletail (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris porphyrochila'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Yalgorup donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris porrifolia'' Lindl. – small-flowered donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris praecox'' D.L.Jones – early doubletail, Newcastle doubletail, rough doubletail (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris protena'' D.L.Jones – northern golden moths (Vic.) * '' Diuris pulchella'' D.L.Jones – beautiful donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris punctata'' Sm. – purple donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld., Vic.) ** ''Diuris punctata'' var. ''punctata'' ** ''Diuris punctata'' var. ''sulphurea'' Rupp * '' Diuris purdiei'' Diels – Purdie's donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris recurva'' D.L.Jones – mini donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris refracta'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – dainty donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris secundiflora'' Fitzg. – one-sided donkey orchid (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris segregata'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Northampton bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris semilunulata'' Messmer in H.M.R.Rupp – late leopard orchid (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic.) * '' Diuris septentrionalis'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – northern bee orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris setacea'' R.Br. – bristly donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris striata'' Rupp (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris subalpina'' D.L.Jones – slender golden moths (N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic.) * '' Diuris suffusa'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – mottled donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris sulphurea'' R.Br. – tiger orchid, hornet orchid (N.S.W., Qld., S.A., Tas., Vic.) * '' Diuris systena'' D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel. – New England golden moths (N.S.W.) * '' Diuris tinctoria'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – sandplain donkey orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris tinkeri'' D.L.Jones & C.J.French – Arrowsmith pansy orchid (W.A.) * '' Diuris tricolor'' Fitzg. – long-tailed donkey orchid, pine donkey orchid (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris unica'' D.L.Jones (N.S.W., Qld.) * '' Diuris venosa'' Rupp – veined doubletail (N.S.W.)


Natural hybrids

* ''Diuris × fastidiosa'' R.S.Rogers 1927 (''D. lanceolata'' × ''D. palustris'') * ''Diuris × nebulosa'' D.L.Jones 1991 (''D. aurea'' × ''D. punctata'') * ''Diuris × palachila'' R.S.Rogers 1907 (''D. behrii'' × ''D. pardina'') * ''Diuris × polymorpha'' Messmer in H.M.R.Rupp 1944 (''D. lanceolata'' × ''D. platichila'')


References


External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2720016 Diurideae genera Orchids of Australia Flora of Timor-Leste