Diuris aurea, commonly known as the golden donkey orchid,[2] is a species of orchid which is endemictoAustralia, growing in New South Wales and Queensland. It has one or two leaves at the base and two to five golden-yellow to orange flowers with some darker markings.
Diuris aurea is a tuberous, perennial, terrestrialherb, usually growing to a height of 30–60 cm (10–20 in). There are one or two linear leaves, each 10–20 cm (4–8 in) long, 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide and channelled.[3]
There are between 2 and 5 golden yellow to orange flowers with some darker markings on the labellum and dorsalsepal. The flower is about 3.5 cm (1 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is broad egg-shaped, 8–15 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long and 7–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) wide and erect. The lateral sepals are linear to spoon-shaped, 10–25 mm (0.4–1 in) long, 2–5 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide and hang below the flower, usually parallel to each other. The petals are erect and spread, ear-like above the flower. They are broadly egg-shaped, 7–17 mm (0.3–0.7 in) long, 6–14 mm (0.2–0.6 in) wide on a dark coloured, stalk-like "claw", 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in). The labellum is 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and is divided into three lobes. The lateral lobes are narrow elliptic to wedge-shaped, 4–6 mm (0.2–0.2 in) long, 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide with a few teeth on their edge. The medial lobe is 7–13 mm (0.3–0.5 in) wide with a ridge along its centre line and there is a two-part callus 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long. Flowering occurs from August to November.[3]
Diuris aurea was first formally described in 1804 by James Edward Smith and the description was published in his book Exotic Botany (Volume 1).[4][5][2] The specific epithet (aurea) is derived from the Latin word aurum meaning "gold".[6]
In New South Wales, golden donkey orchid grows between Marulan and the Hunter Valley, growing in heathy and shrubby woodland and in grassy places in forest in areas near the coast.[3] It also occurs in Queensland where its conservation status is "of least concern".[7][8]
^ ab"Diuris aurea". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
^ abRobinson, Les (2003). Field guide to the native plants of Sydney (3rd revised ed.). East Roseville, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 246. ISBN9780731812110.
^ abcJones, David L. "Diuris aurea". Royal Botanic Garden Sydney: plantNET. Retrieved 14 September 2016.
^Copeland, Lachlan M.; Backhouse, Gary N. (2022). Guide to the Native Orchids of NSW and ACT. clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 206. ISBN9781486313686.
