Diuris eburnea, commonly known as Arrowsmith bee orchid,[1] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and six linear leaves and up to eight pale yellow to cream-coloured flowers with reddish markings. It is only known from near the Arrowsmith River north of Eneabba.
Diuris eburnea is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and six linear leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and folded lengthwise. Up to eight pale yellow to cream-coloured flowers with reddish markings, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and curves upwards. The lateral sepals are oblong, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and turned downwards, parallel to or crossed over each other. The petals are more or less erect and spread apart from each other, egg-shaped to elliptic, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide on a purplish brown stalk NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The labellum is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, turns slightly downwards and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped to wedge-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and the side lobes are egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long and about 3sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There are two callus ridges 4.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and November.[2] [3]
Diuris eburnea was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected north of Eneabba and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[4] The specific epithet (eburnea) is a Latin word meaning "of ivory",[5] referring to the colour of the flowers of this orchid.
Arrowsmith bee orchid grows in winter-wet areas on the banks of the Arrowsmith River in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region.
Diuris eburnea is classified as "Priority One" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that it is known from only one or a few locations which are potentially at risk.[6]