''Diuris chryseopsis'', commonly known as common golden moths or small snake orchid, is a species of

orchid Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Along with the Asteraceae, they are one of the two largest families of flowering ...

that is endemic to south-eastern

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. It is a common and widespread species growing in

woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with trees, or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the ''plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade (see ...

, often in colonies and has up to four drooping, golden-yellow flowers. It is similar to several other orchids and form hybrids with some other ''Diuris'' species.

Description

''Diuris chryseopsis'' is a

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing ...

ous,

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

herb In general use, herbs are a widely distributed and widespread group of plants, excluding vegetables and other plants consumed for macronutrients, with savory or aromatic properties that are used for flavoring and garnishing food, for medicinal ...

with two to five, sometimes up to eight green, linear leaves long, wide in a loose tuft. Up to four drooping, lemon yellow flowers with brownish markings and wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The dorsal

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

is more or less erect, egg-shaped to lance-shaped, long, wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, long, wide, and turned downwards. The

petal Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...

s are lance-shaped to narrow egg-shaped, long, wide on a blackish stalk long and are directed sideways. The labellum is long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped to heart-shaped, long and wide and the side lobes are oblong to wedge-shaped, long and wide. The labellum callus is densely hairy or pimply near its base and tapers towards the tip of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.

Taxonomy and naming

''Diuris chryseopsis'' was first formally described in 1998 by David Jones from a specimen collected in a paddock near the Symmons Plains Raceway. The

specific epithet In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...

(''chryseopsis'') is derived from the

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...

words ''chryseos'' meaning "golden" and ''opsis'' meaning "sight", "look" or "appearance", referring to the colour of the flowers.

Distribution and habitat

Common golden moths grows in moist places in forest, woodland and grassland. It is found in south-eastern

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

Tasmania ) , nickname = , image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdi ...

and in Victoria where it is widespread and common. It may also occur in south-eastern

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. It is similar to other '' Diuris'' species and often forms hybrids with some that occur in the same area.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4358576 chryseopsis Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of New South Wales Orchids of the Australian Capital Territory Orchids of Tasmania Orchids of Victoria (state) Plants described in 1998 Taxa named by David L. Jones (botanist)

Description

Taxonomy and naming

Distribution and habitat

See also

References