Diuris striata is a poorly-known species of orchid that is endemic to New South Wales. It has a two grass-like leaves and about four mauve flowers with dark purple streaks on the labellum.
Diuris striata is a tuberous, perennial herb with a two linear leaves NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, about 4sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and folded lengthwise. About four mauve flowers about 20sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide are borne on a flowering stem about 220sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, NaNsigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide and egg-shaped. The lateral sepals are linear, about 15sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and turned downwards. The petals spread apart from each other, egg-shaped to more or less lance-shaped, about 7sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. The labellum is about 9sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped to heart-shaped and 6sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 wide with dark purple streaks. The side lobes are linear to egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about 2.5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long and 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 wide. There are two callus ridges about 5sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering has only been observed in November.[1]
Diuris striata was first formally described in 1944 by Herman Rupp and the description was published in his book The Orchids of New South Wales.[2] Rupp noted "No specimens are known and the following brief description is quoted from Moore and Betche's Handbook: [Handbook of the flora of New South Wales : a description of the flowering plants and ferns indigenous to New South Wales][3] "Flowers lilac. Lateral sepals under 1sigfig=1NaNsigfig=1 long, the dorsal one rather longer than the labellum. Petals ovate-lanceolate. Lateral lobes of the labellum short, acute, recurved, the middle lobe broadly spathulate. Flowers not blotched, but the labellum barred with darker lines".[4] The specific epithet (striata) is derived from the Latin word meaning stria meaning "furrow", "channel" or "stripe".[5]
This orchid is only known from the type collection made near Forbes before 1889.