Diuris fucosa is a species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It between four and seven leaves and up to four pale yellow flowers with a few brown striations. It is only known from two sites in Callitris woodland in the south of the state and is classed as "extinct" in Victoria.
Diuris fucosa is a tuberous, perennial herb with a loose tussock of between four and seven narrow linear leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. Up to four pale yellow flowers NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal is egg-shaped and held close to horizontally, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The lateral sepals are green, lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and turned below horizontal and usually parallel to each other. The petals spread apart from each other, elliptic to egg-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide on a green to brown stalk NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long. The labellum is NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and the side lobes are oblong to wedge-shaped, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide with irregular edges. There are two thick, brown, pimply callus ridges near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in August and September.[1] [2]
Diuris fucosa was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Urana and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.[3] The specific epithet (fucosa) is a Latin word meaning "painted", "simulated" or "counterfeit",[4] referring to the tan-brown markings on the labellum of this orchid.
This orchid grows in Callitris woodland in two locations between Urana and Narrandera, one in a state forest and the other on private property. There are two old collections from Victoria but the species is now classed as "extinct" in that state.