Black Mountain leopard orchid
Diuris nigromontana growing on Black Mountain in the A.C.T.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Orchidoideae
Tribe: Diurideae
Genus: Diuris
Species:
D. nigromontana
Binomial name
Diuris nigromontana

Diuris nigromontana, commonly known as Canberra donkey orchid[2] or Black Mountain leopard orchid,[3] is a species of orchid that is endemic to the Australian Capital Territory. It has two grass-like leaves and up to eight yellow-orange flowers with brownish marks on the labellum.

Description

Diuris nigromontana is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves folded lengthwise. Between two and eight yellow-orange flowers are borne on a flowering stem up to 350 mm (14 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is tall and usually erect, more or less triangular but with a bluntly-pointed tip. The lateral sepals are crossed, but usually not turned backwards. The petals are usually erect, egg-shaped to round. The labellum has brownish marks and three lobes, the side lobes relatively large and oblong. Flowering occurs in October and November.[2] This orchid is similar to D. semilunulata but is a brighter shade of yellow, has less prominent darker markings and erect petals.[4]

Taxonomy

Diuris nigromontana was first formally described in 2008 by David Jones in "The Orchadian" from a specimen collected on Black Mountain.[4][5] The specific epithet means "black mountain", referring to Black Mountain where this species is common.[4]

Distribution and habitat

Canberra donkey orchid grows in shrubby woodland and forest, and is locally common around Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory.[2][4]

References

  1. ↑ "Diuris nigromontana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Copeland, Lachlan M.; Backhouse, Gary N. (2022). Guide to Native Orchids of NSW and ACT. Clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. pp. 198–199. ISBN 9781486313686.
  3. ↑ "Diuris nigromontana". Canberra Nature Map Community. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Jones, David L. (2008). "Twelve new species of Orchidaceae from south-eastern Australia". The Orchadian. 15 (12): 550–551. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Duiris nigromontana". APNI. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
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