Diuris amabilis
| Diuris amabilis | |
|---|---|
| |
In the Australian Capital Territory
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Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Orchidoideae |
| Tribe: | Diurideae |
| Genus: | Diuris |
| Species: | D. amabilis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Diuris amabilis | |
Diuris amabilis, commonly known as lovely moths,[2] is a species of orchid that is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It has between four and eight grass-like leaves, a flowering stem with up to five yellow flowers with a few dark streaks, and a yellow to orange labellum. The flowers appear from late September to November.
Description[edit]
Diuris behrii is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and eight grass-like, linear to narrow linear leaves 100–250 mm (3.9–9.8 in) long and 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) wide. Up to five yellow flowers are borne on a flowering stem 200–500 mm (7.9–19.7 in) tall, each flower on a pedicel 7–30 mm (0.28–1.18 in) long. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, up to 13–18 mm (0.51–0.71 in) long, 7–11 mm (0.28–0.43 in) and leans forwards at its lower half then erect. The lateral sepals are narrowly egg-shaped to spatula-shaped, 18–25 mm (0.71–0.98 in) long, 3.0–4.5 mm (0.12–0.18 in) wide, turned beneath the labellum and parallel to each other. The petals are nearly horizontal or droop, elliptic to narrowly egg-shaped, 17–27 mm (0.67–1.06 in) long, 2.0–2.5 mm (0.079–0.098 in) wide on a stalk 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. The labellum has three lobes, the lateral lobes narrowly triangular, 3.0–3.5 mm (0.12–0.14 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.039–0.079 in) wide, the mid-lobe broadly egg-shaped, 16–20 mm (0.63–0.79 in) long and 11–15 mm (0.43–0.59 in) wide. There are two pimply orange calli 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from late September to November.[2][3]
Taxonomy and naming[edit]
Diuris amabilis was first formally described in 2019 by David Jones in Australian Orchid Review from a specimen collected near Bookham in 1992.[3][4] The specific epithet (amabilis) means "lovely", referring to the flowers of this orchid.[3]
Distribution and habitat[edit]
Lovely orchid mostly grows in grassland, grassy woodland and forest, and around swamps at altitudes between 200 and 1,100 m (660 and 3,610 ft). It is found south from Orange in New South Wales to near Tooborac in central northern Victoria. There is a single record from the Australian Capital Territory. Records of Diuris behrii from these areas are now referrable to D. amabilis.[2][3]
References[edit]
- ^ "Diuris amabilis". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ a b c Copeland, Lachlan M.; Backhouse, Gary N. (2022). Guide to Native Orchids of NSW and ACT. Clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 188–189. ISBN 9781486313686.
- ^ a b c d Jones, David L. (2019). "Two new species of Diuris R.Br. from eastern Australia". Australian Orchid Review. 84 (6): 31–33. Retrieved 19 September 2023.
- ^ "Duiris amabilis". APNI. Retrieved 19 September 2023.