Diuris laevis

Diuris laevis, commonly known as the nanny goat orchid,[2] is a rare species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has between four and eight leaves and up to six pale yellow flowers which usually have reddish-brown markings. It has an unusually short dorsal sepal and wide labellum and is relatively common between Bunbury and Albany.

Nanny goat orchid
Diuris laevis near Madfish Bay in the William Bay National Park
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. laevis
Binomial name
Diuris laevis

Description

Diuris laevis is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and eight spirally twisted leaves 50–120 mm (2–5 in) long and 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) wide. Up to eight pale yellow flowers usually with reddish brown markings, 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 18–30 mm (0.7–1 in) wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–350 mm (8–10 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is angled upwards, 9–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and tapered. The lateral sepals project forwards 17–22 mm (0.7–0.9 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide. The petals are erect, spread apart from each other, egg-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) wide on a brown stalk 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long. The labellum is 13–16 mm (0.5–0.6 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, 11–13 mm (0.4–0.5 in) long and 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide. The side lobes are 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with toothed edges. There are two flattened callus ridges 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in October and November, more prolifically after fire.[2][3][4]

Taxonomy and naming

Diuris laevis was first formally described in 1882 by Robert FitzGerald and the description was published in The Gardeners' Chronicle.[5][6] The specific epithet (laevis) is a Latin word meaning "smooth", "polished" or "bald".[7]

Distribution and habitat

The nanny goat orchid grows in winter-wet areas and in swamps, often in large numbers between Bunbury and Albany in the Esperance Plains, Jarrah Forest and Warren biogeographic regions.[2][4][8]

Conservation

Diuris laevis is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.[8]

References
  1. "Diuris laevis". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Brown, Andrew; Dundas, Pat; Dixon, Kingsley; Hopper, Stephen (2008). Orchids of Western Australia. Crawley, Western Australia: University of Western Australia Press. p. 224. ISBN 9780980296457.
  3. Jones, David L. (2006). A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories. Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: New Holland. p. 136. ISBN 1877069124.
  4. Hoffman, Noel; Brown, Andrew (2011). Orchids of South-West Australia (3rd ed.). Gooseberry Hill: Noel Hoffman. p. 496. ISBN 9780646562322.
  5. "Duiris laevis". APNI. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  6. Fitzgerald, Robert D. (1882). "New Australian orchids". The Gardeners' Chronicle. 17: 495. Retrieved 24 March 2018.
  7. Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 653.
  8. "Diuris laevis". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.

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