Diuris eborensis
Diuris eborensis is a species of orchid which is endemic to eastern Australia. It has up to six grass-like leaves and a flowering stem with up to four pale yellowish flowers with dark reddish purple streaks.
Description
Diuris eborensis is a tuberous, perennial herb with between three and six linear, grass-like leaves long, wide. Up to four flowers wide are borne on a flowering stem tall. The flowers are pale yellowish with dark reddish-purple streaks and striations and lean slightly forwards. The dorsal sepal is long, wide and directed upwards at an angle. The lateral sepals are long, wide, and turn slightly downwards. The petals are ear-like at the sides of the flower, long and wide on a purplish, stalk-like "claw" long. The labellum is long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broad egg-shaped, long and wide and the side lobes are long and wide. The edges of the labellum are scalloped and there is a callus in its centre which has two short, broad ridges and a thin central ridge long. Flowering occurs from October to early December and the fruit which follows is a dehiscent capsule containing up to 500 seeds.
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris eborensis was first formally described in 2006 by David Jones and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research from a specimen collected near Rigney Creek, west of Ebor.
Distribution and habitat
This donkey orchid grows in moist, grassy places near streams in five locations on the New England Tableland.
Conservation
Diuris eborensis is listed as "endangered" under the New South Wales Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 and has been recommended for listing as "endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The main threats to the species include grazing and trampling by cattle, competition from weeds, camping, roadworks and dumping of waste.