''Diuris curta'' 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 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 has one or two leaves and up to five bright yellow flowers with two small dark spots on 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 ...

. It grows on coastal headlands between about Byfield in

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , established_ ...

and Hat Head in

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 ...

Description

''Diuris curta'' 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 one or more usually two linear leaves long, wide and folded lengthwise. Up to five bright yellow flowers wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The dorsal is egg-shaped to almost round, long and wide with two small dark spots. The lateral sepals are greenish, egg-shaped to spatula-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, long, wide and turned downwards, parallel to or crossed over each other. 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 more or less erect or curved backwards, broadly egg-shaped, long and wide on a blackish stalk long. The labellum is long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped to wedge-shaped, long and wide and the side lobes are oblong to egg-shaped, long and wide. There are two callus ridges long and spreading apart from each other near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to early October.

Taxonomy and naming

''Diuris curta'' was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Hat Head and the description was published in ''Australian Orchid Research''. 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 ...

(''curta'') is a

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

word meaning "short", referring to the short habit of this orchid, which is probably a result of adaptation to the exposed environment.

Distribution and habitat

This orchid grows on coastal headlands between Byfield and Hat Head, often in places exposed to the sea.

Conservation

Invasion by weeds including

bitou bush ''Osteospermum moniliferum'' ''(Chrysanthemoides monilifera)'' is an evergreen flowering shrub or small tree of the Asteraceae (daisy) family that is native to South Africa, such as the Cape Flats Dune Strandveld habitat. Most subspecies have wo ...

and native shrubs in the absence of fire threaten ''D. curta''.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q10267383

curta The Curta is a hand-held mechanical calculator designed by Curt Herzstark. It is known for its extremely compact design: a small cylinder that fits in the palm of the hand. It was affectionately known as the "pepper grinder" or "peppermill ...

Endemic orchids of Australia Orchids of New South Wales Orchids of Queensland Plants described in 2006 Taxa named by David L. Jones (botanist)