Pansy orchid (Diuris magnifica)
Description
Diuris magnifica is a tuberous, perennial herb, usually growing to a height of 300–600 mm (10–20 in). Two or three leaves emerge at the base, each leaf 120–220 mm (5–9 in) long, 18–24 mm (0.7–0.9 in) wide and folded lengthwise. There are between three and nine golden-yellow and purple flowers 40–60 mm (1.6–2.4 in) long and 30–50 mm (1–2 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is egg-shaped, 12–17 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide and curves upwards. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, 16–26 mm (0.6–1 in) long, about 3 mm (0.1 in) wide, turned downwards and usually crossed. The petals are erect with an egg-shaped blade 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) long and 12–14 mm (0.5–0.6 in) wide on a purplish-brown stalk 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) long. The labellum is mauve or purple with some yellow markings, 13–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is wedge-shaped, 8–14 mm (0.3–0.6 in) long and 9–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in) wide and the side lobes are 10–16 mm (0.4–0.6 in) long and 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. There is a single yellow, ridged callus 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long in the mid-line of the labellum. The species is similar to several other Diuris including D. corymbosa and D. amplissima but is distinguished from them by its size, flowering period and distribution. Flowering occurs from late August to October.
Taxonomic tree
-
Domain: Eukarya
-
-
Kingdom: Plantae
-
-
Phylum:
-
-
Class: Liliopsida
-
-
Order: Asparagales
-
-
Family: Orchidaceae
-
-
Genus: Diuris
-
-
-
-
-
-
