''Diuris secundiflora'', commonly known as the one-sided donkey orchid,
is a poorly-known species of
orchid that is
endemic to
New South Wales. It has a single grass-like leaf and up to eight yellow flowers that are sometimes spotted and are all arranged on one side of the flowering stem.
Description
''Diuris secundiflora'' 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 a single leaf about long, wide and folded lengthwise. Between two and eight yellow flowers about wide are borne on one side of a flowering stem about tall. The dorsal sepal curves backwards, long, about wide and egg-shaped to
spatula-shaped. The lateral sepals are linear, long, about 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 spread widely or are more or less erect, egg-shaped, long and about wide on a dark reddish brown stalk long. The labellum is about long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is fan-shaped, long and wide with a central ridge. The side lobes are about long and less than wide. There are two thick
callus ridges long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and November.
Taxonomy and naming
''Diuris secundiflora'' was first formally described in 1878 by
Robert FitzGerald and the description was published in his book ''
Australian Orchids''.
Distribution
The one-sided donkey orchid is only known from the
type location near the
Macleay River "growing in a small cluster on an open bank".
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10267417
secundiflora
Endemic orchids of Australia
Orchids of New South Wales
Plants described in 1878
Taxa named by Robert D. FitzGerald