Darling Scarp Donkey Orchid
Diuris ostrina
Synonyms
- Diuris sp. ‘Darling Scarp’
Notes
This only recently described species is restricted to a small area of south-western WA near Perth and looks very similar to the Dunsborough Donkey Orchid (Diuris jonesii), both in terms of size and colouration. The flowers are relatively large and usually of dull-orange colour rather than yellow, although they are generally quite variable. The Darling Scarp Donkey Orchid is most easily distinguished from similar species by its relatively late flowering period (starting in late September or early October) and the fact that it is mostly restricted to a small section of the Darling Scarp and adjacent western Wheatbelt between Perth and Brookton, with very rare, scattered occurrences on the Swan Coastal Plain.
The Darling Scarp Donkey Orchid is typically found in Jarrah and Wandoo woodland, where it grows in moist and shady areas, for example in the vicinity of seasonal creeks and swamps. It is never common and often occurs as scattered individuals rather than in large groups.
Photos
References
- Diuris ostrina in the Australian Plant Name Index
- Diuris ostrina in the Atlas of Living Australia
- Diuris ostrina in the Western Australian FloraBase