Diuris exitela, commonly called the Mount Moffat doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to central western Queensland. It has two linear leaves at its base, up to twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings and grows on sandstone cliffs and ridges.
Diuris exitela is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and folded lengthwise. Between seven and twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and leaning downwards are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal projects forward and is egg-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and forms a hood over the rest of the flower. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, green and purple-brown, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide, turned downwards and usually crossed over each other. The petals are held horizontally or droop with an elliptic blade NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide on a green to purplish stalk NaNsigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long. The labellum is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and the side lobes are linear, purplish-brown, about 2sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There are two ridge-like calli about 4.5sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 long near the base of the mid-line of the base of the labellum. Flowering occurs in September and October.[1] [2]
Diuris exitela was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected on Mount Moffat and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[3] The specific epithet (exitela) is derived from the Ancient Greek word exitelos meaning "lessening", "fading" or "weakening",[4] referring to the colour of the flowers which fades quickly from bright yellow to pale yellow as they age.
The Mount Moffat doubletail grows mainly on sandstone cliffs and ridges but also between sandstone boulders in woodland and is found on Mount Moffat and in Carnarvon Gorge in central western Queensland.