''Diuris chryseopsis'', commonly known as common golden moths
or small snake orchid,
is a species of
orchid 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, 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
tuberous,
perennial 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 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 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,
Tasmania and in
Victoria where it is widespread and common. It may also occur in south-eastern
South Australia. It is similar to other ''
Diuris'' species and often forms
hybrids with some that occur in the same area.
See also
*
Golden Sun Moth (''Synemon plana''), a critically endangered moth with a similar name, found in grasslands of South-East Australia.
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)