Diuris carinata

Tall Bee Orchid
Diuris carinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Subtribe: Diuridinae
Genus: Diuris
Species: D. carinata
Binomial name
Diuris carinata
Lindl.

Diuris carinata is a species of orchid, commonly known as the tall bee orchid[1] although members of this genus are generally known as donkey orchids because of the large, ear-like lateral petals. It is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia.

Description

Diuris carinata is a tuberous, perennial herb with four or five leaves and a flower stem about 30 cm (1 foot) high. Flowers appear from October to November and are yellow with a purple spot at the base and apex of the dorsal sepal and petals. Each flower is about 19 mm (3/4 inch) wide and 25 mm (1 inch) long.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

The species was first described by John Lindley in his 1840 book The Genera and Species of Orchidaceous Plants from a specimen collected by James Drummond near the Swan River. Its specific epithet (carinata) is derived from the Latin carinatus "keel"[4] referring to the keel-like structure of parts of the flower.[5]

Distribution and habitat

The species is endemic to the south western corner of Western Australia, occurring in the Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographical regions of Western Australia. It grows in sandy clay in winter-wet swamps.[6]

References

  1. "Diuris carinata Lindl.". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  2. "Diuris carinata Lindl.". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia.
  3. Sargent, Oswald H. (February 1909). "Systematic notes on Orchidaceae". Journal of the Western Australia Natural History Society VI: 66. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  4. "carinate". Wiktionary. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  5. Pelloe, Emily H. (1930). West Australian Orchids. Perth: Emily H. Pelloe. p. 16. Retrieved 20 February 2015.
  6. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 84. ISBN 0646402439.