Diuris aequalis

Diuris aequalis, commonly called the buttercup doubletail,[3] is a species of orchid which is endemic to New South Wales. It has two rolled leaves and spikes of two to five golden-yellow to orange flowers and is currently listed as "Endangered".

Buttercup doubletail
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. aequalis
Binomial name
Diuris aequalis
Synonyms[2]

Diuris maculata var. concolor Benth.

Description

Diuris aequalis is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of 20–45 cm (8–20 in). There are two linear leaves arising from the base of the plant, each leaf 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and rolled so that the sides of the leaf face each other. There are between two and five golden-yellow to orange flowers arranged on a raceme, usually without spots, each about 25 mm (1 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is broadly egg-shaped to almost circular, 7–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long, 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide above the flower. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 8–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) long, 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide, sickle-shaped and green. The petals are erect, ear-like above the flower, 6–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) wide. The labellum is 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long, 2.5–5 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and has three lobes, the medial lobe ridged in its centre and has two broad calli about 3.5 mm (0.1 in) long. Flowering occurs between October and December, following which the leaves die back to be replaced prior to the next flowering.[3][4]

D. aequalis flower labelled

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris aequalis was first formally described in 1876 by Robert D. FitzGerald in his book Australian Orchids from an unpublished description by Ferdinand von Mueller.[5][6] The specific epithet (aequalis) is a Latin word meaning "like", "same" or "uniform".[7]

Distribution and habitat

Buttercup doubletail orchid occurs on the ranges and tablelands of New South Wales between Braidwood and the Kanangra-Boyd National Park where it grows in forest and low open woodland with a grassy understory, often on gentle slopes.[4]

Conservation

Only about 200 individual plants of D. aequalis are known, mostly on roadsides and on agricultural land. It is listed as "Vulnerable" (VU) under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). The threats to its survival include land clearing, grazing, road maintenance and illegal rubbish dumping.[4]

It was one of the plants targeted in the 2015 Save a Species Walk.[8]

References
  1. Australian Government, Threatened Species Scientific Committee. (2022). "Diuris aequalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2022: e.T206712067A206712854. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  2. "Diuris aequalis". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  3. Jones, David L. "Diuris aequalis". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantNET. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. "Approved Conservation Advice for Diuris aequalis (Buttercup Doubletail)" (PDF). Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. "Duiris aequalis". APNI. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1879). Australian Orchids (PDF). Vol. 1. Sydney: Thomas Richards, Government Printer. p. 5. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 305.
  8. "Save a species". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
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