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Diuris
Also called Double Tails
Diuris, commonly known as donkey orchids, bee orchids, nanny goat orchids or pansy orchids, is a genus of more than sixty species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae and is endemic to Australia, apart from one species endemic to Timor. The name "Diuris" refers to the hanging sepals but the common name "donkey orchid", derives from the ear-like petals common to all species. Many have mainly yellow flowers with darker markings and are thought to mimic nectar-producing flowers which open at the same time.
Donkey orchids occur in all Australian states, but not the Northern Territory with one species (D. fryana) found in Timor. In New South Wales, most species grow among grasses in sclerophyll forest. In Western Australia, most grow in moist places such as coastal swamps or near granite outcrops. Donkey orchids usually grow as individual plants or in loose colonies and most occur at low altitudes, although D. monticola grows at up to 1,800 m (6,000 ft). Some species flower more profusely after fire and D. purdiei will only flower following a summer fire. In fire-prone areas, the tubers lie dormant in the soil and are not harmed by bushfires.
Lemon doubletail · Buttercup doubletail · White donkey orchid · Diuris amabilis · Giant donkey orchid · Tomaree donkey orchid · Golden Donkey Orchid · Little golden moths · Golden Cowslips · Diuris brachyscapa · Diuris bracteata · Short-leaved donkey orchid
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Diuris by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
