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Genus Diuris Family Orchidaceae

Description: Terrestrial herbs, sympodial; roots subterranean, filamentous; tuberoids paired.

Leaves basal, 1–10 per shoot, distichous or spirally arranged, conduplicate.

Inflorescence racemose, >1-flowered, terminal; flowers resupinate. Dorsal sepal free, shorter than lateral sepals, erect or reflexed; lateral sepals free, narrow; lateral petals free, longer to shorter than lateral sepals, distinctly clawed, with rounded to ovate lamina. Labellum free, attached at base of column; lamina deeply 3-lobed, with 2 longitudinal keels. Column with stamen and style almost completely free, stubby; column wings almost entirely free, armlike. Column foot absent. Anther erect, parallel to the axis of the filament, persistent. Pollinia 2, soft and mealy. Stigma entire. Rostellum apical.


Flower
Photo J. Plaza

Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 40 species, Australia & Timor. Australia: c. 39 species (endemic), all States except N.T.

The hybrids **D.X nebulosa D. L. Jones (NC, CC, SC) and **DX polymorpha Messmer [D. victoriensis Messmer] (CT) are not described in the text.

Text by D. L. Jones
Taxon concept:

Taxa not yet included in identification key
Diuris arenaria,    Diuris behrii,    Diuris byronensis,    Diuris callitrophila,    Diuris chryseopsis,    Diuris curta,    Diuris eborensis,    Diuris fucosa,    Diuris minor,    Diuris monticola,    Diuris nigromontana,    Diuris ochroma,    Diuris orientis,    Diuris parvipetala,    Diuris subalpina,    Diuris systena,    Diuris unica

 Key to the species 
1Lateral lobes of the labellum about as long as or longer than the midlobe2
Lateral lobes of the labellum much shorter than the midlobe7
2Flowers orange, usually lacking any markingsDiuris aequalis
Flowers yellow to golden with reddish brown or blackish markings
                       Back to 1
3
3Labellum with a single callus ridgeDiuris corymbosa
Labellum with 2 callus ridges
                       Back to 2
4
4Labellum midlobe obovate when flattened, lateral sepals parallelDiuris brevissima
Labellum midlobe cuneate when flattened, lateral sepals crossed and recurved beneath the labellum
                       Back to 3
5
5Lateral lobes of labellum usually larger than midlobeDiuris semilunulata
Lateral lobes of labellum usually smaller than midlobe
                       Back to 4
6
6Flowers yellow, dotted and spotted with dark markings (mainly coastal)Diuris maculata
Flowers yellow to golden, heavily blotched and suffused with dark markings (mainly inland)
                       Back to 5
Diuris pardina
7Lateral sepals deflexed, hanging away from the labellum8
Lateral sepals directed upward and outward under the labellum
                       Back to 1
26
8Lateral sepals much longer than the petals9
Lateral sepals about as long as the petals
                       Back to 7
16
9Flowers white, lilac, mauve or purple10
Flowers yellowish to clear yellow, golden or orange
                       Back to 8
13
10Petal claw gradually expanded into the lamina11
Petal lamina suddenly expanded at the apex of the claw
                       Back to 9
12
11Labellum spathulate, midlobe ovate-cordate when flattenedDiuris striata
Labellum broad-obovate, midlobe circular-flabellate when flattened
                       Back to 10
Diuris dendrobioides
12Flowers 5–6 cm across, lilac, mauve or purple, petals erectDiuris punctata
Flowers c. 2 cm across, white with lilac or purple markings, petal lamina recurved
                       Back to 10
Diuris alba
13Flowers yellowish, heavily suffused with mauve and purpleDiuris nebulosa
Flowers clear yellow, golden or orange, often with some light markings on the labellum, not heavily suffused
                       Back to 9
14
14Flowers arranged on 1 side of the rachisDiuris secundiflora
Flowers arranged around the rachis
                       Back to 13
15
15Petal claw expanded gradually into the laminaDiuris tricolor
Petal lamina distinctly and suddenly expanded at the apex of the claw
                       Back to 14
Diuris punctata
16Callus ridges irregularly pubescent towards the apexDiuris x polymorpha
Callus ridges lacking any pubescence
                       Back to 8
17
17Raceme with about 5 prominent, curved, linear bractsDiuris bracteata
Raceme with 2 or 3 bracts, usually not either prominent or curved
                       Back to 16
18
18Labellum callus of a single ridgeDiuris sulphurea
Labellum callus of two ridges
                       Back to 17
19
19Flowers bright golden yellow to orange20
Flowers lemon yellow to yellow
                       Back to 18
21
20Flowers c. 3.5 cm acrossDiuris aurea
Flowers c. 2 cm across
                       Back to 19
Diuris chrysantha
21Flowers more or less nodding22
Flowers erect
                       Back to 19
23
22Petal lamina elliptic, labellum midlobe mainly elliptic to obovate when flattened; coastal species flowering July to early SeptDiuris praecox
Petal lamina mainly ovate, labellum midlobe mainly ovate to circular when flattened; inland ranges and tablelands, flowering Sept.–Nov
                       Back to 21
Diuris abbreviata
23Flowers widely spaced in the racemeDiuris disposita
Flowers closely spaced in the raceme
                       Back to 21
24
24Lateral lobes of labellum 4–7 mm long; raceme usually 30–70 cm high25
Lateral lobes of labellum linear to narrow-ovate, 0.8–1.2 mm wide; raceme 10–20 cm high
                       Back to 23
Diuris flavescens
25Lateral lobes of labellum linear, c. 1 mm wideDiuris platichila
Lateral lobes of labellum narrow-ovate, c. 2–4 mm wide
                       Back to 24
Diuris goonooensis
26Flowers white to lilac with numerous purple striationsDiuris venosa
Flowers yellow to orange
                       Back to 7
27
27Leaves 2; raceme 6–18 cm high; flowers 1 or 2, 1.5–2 cm acrossDiuris pedunculata
Leaves 3–9; raceme 15–40 cm high; flowers 1–4, 2.5–4 cm across
                       Back to 26
Diuris lanceolata

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