Diuris decrementum, commonly called the common bee orchid,[1] is a species of orchid which is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is similar to the bee orchid (Diuris laxiflora) but its flowers are smaller and on a shorter flowering stem.
Diuris decrementum is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 with two to five leaves emerging at the base, each NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There are up to three yellow flowers with brown blotches, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The flowers have broad, ear-like petals, an erect, tapering dorsal sepal and narrow, forward-projecting lateral sepals. The labellum has three lobes, the lateral ones small and spreading, and the middle lobe elongated with a raised mid-line. Flowering occurs from late August to early November.[2]
Diuris decrementum was first formally described in 2013 by David Jones and Christopher French and the description was published in Australian Orchid Review.[3] The specific epithet (decrementum) is derived from the Latin word decrementum meaning "lessening"[4] referring to the small flowers and shorter flowering stem of this species.
The common bee orchid occurs from near Perth to the east of Esperance where it grows in a range of habitats from woodlands to soil pockets on granite outcrops.
Diuris decrementum is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.