Diuris littoralis explained

Diuris littoralis, commonly known as Green Range donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has two or three linear leaves and up to six yellow, brown and mauve flowers from late July to early September.

Description

Diuris littoralis is a tuberous, perennial herb with two or three linear leaves long and wide. Up to six yellow flowers with brown and mauve markings, long and wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, long and wide, the lateral sepals narrowly oblong, parallel or crossed, long and wide. The petals are more or less broadly elliptic, long and wide on a stalk long. The labellum is long with three lobes - the centre lobe wedge-shaped with down-curved edges, long and wide, the side lobes spread widely apart and oblong, long and wide. There is a single smooth, yellow callus ridge along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from late July to early September.[1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris littoralis was first formally described in 2016 by David Jones and Christopher J. French in Australian Orchid Review, from a specimen collected by Jones near the hospital in Spencer Park in 1986.[3] The specific epithet (littoralis) means "belonging to the sea shore", referring to the coastal or near-coastal habitat of this species.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Green Range donkey orchid grows in coastal and near-coastal shrublands and woodlands on well-drained laterite, in clay near streams and in shallow sand over limestone between Denmark and Esperance in the Avon Wheatbelt, Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Mallee bioregions of south-western Western Australia.

Conservation

Diuris littoralis is listed as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Brown. Andrew. Dixon. Kingsley. French. Christopher. Hopper. Stephen. Orchids of Western Australia. 2008. University of Western Australia Press. Crawley, Western Australia. 9780980348149. 213.
  2. Jones . David L. . French . Christopher J. . Eight new species in the Diuris corymbosa Lindley complex (Orchidaceae) from Western Australia. . Australian Orchid Review . 2016 . 81 . 2 . 36 . 2 August 2023.
  3. Web site: Duiris littoralis. APNI. 2 August 2023.
  4. Book: Sharr . Francis Aubi . George . Alex . Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings . 2019 . Four Gables Press . Kardinya, WA . 9780958034180 . 241 . 3rd.