Diuris punctata, commonly known as the purple donkey orchid[2] 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.
| Purple donkey orchid | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Diuris |
| Species: | D. punctata
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| Binomial name | |
| Diuris punctata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editDiuris punctata is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves 150–300 mm (6–10 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Up to ten flowers 50–60 mm (2.0–2.4 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 300–600 mm (10–20 in) tall. The flowers are purple or mauve, often with darker, sometimes yellow marks. The dorsal sepal is more or less erect, elliptic to egg-shaped, 10–18 mm (0.4–0.7 in) long and 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide. The lateral sepals are greenish-brown, linear to lance-shaped, 30–50 mm (1–2 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and turned downwards. The petals are erect with an egg-shaped blade 7–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long and 7–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide on a dark coloured stalk 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long. The labellum is 9–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped to fan-shaped, 7–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long and 12–20 mm (0.5–0.8 in) wide and the side lobes are linear to wedge-shaped, 3–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 1.5–4 mm (0.06–0.2 in) wide. There are two ridge-like calli about 5 mm (0.2 in) long, surrounded by yellow in the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from September to December.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming
editDiuris punctata was first formally described in 1804 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in Exotic Botany.[4][5] The specific epithet (punctata) is a Latin word meaning "spotted".[6]
Distribution and habitat
editThe purple donkey orchid is found in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria growing in forest and grassland. In New South Wales it occurs south from the Moonbi Range and in Victoria north from the Mornington Peninsula. A form known as Diuris punctata var. sulfurea was known from a property near Guyra but is now thought to be extinct. It had smaller, yellow flowers.[2]
Conservation
editDiuris punctata is classed as "threatened" in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. The main threats to the species are competition from weeds and grasses, grazing and soil disturbance.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Diuris punctata`". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ a b c Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 133. ISBN 1877069124.
- ^ Jones, David L. "Diuris punctata". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ "Duiris punctata". APNI. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Smith, James Edward (1804). Exotic Botany (Volume 1). London: R. Taylor and Co. pp. 13–14. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ^ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 742.
- ^ "Purple Diuris Diuris punctata var. punctata" (PDF). Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment. Retrieved 11 March 2018.