Diuris brevifolia

Diuris brevifolia is a tuberous, perennial herb with between four and eight, often twisted leaves which are {{convert|70-120|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. Up to five bright yellow flowers {{convert|15-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|150-400|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. There are two brown spots on the base of the dorsal sepal and the labellum callus is outlined in brown. The dorsal sepal is erect or bent upwards, {{convert|12-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are greenish, linear to lance-shaped, {{convert|13-16|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and turn downwards, more or less parallel to each other. The petals are erect or curved backwards, have a dark brown stalk {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long with a blade {{convert|9-11|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The labellum is egg-shaped, {{convert|12-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7-8|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide with side lobes {{convert|5-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and about {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. There are two parallel ridge-like calli about {{convert|6-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to December.{{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=A complete guide to native orchids of Australia including the island territories|date=2006|publisher=New Holland|location=Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.|isbn=1877069124|pages =125–126}}{{cite web|title=Threatened species profile - Diuris brevifolia|url=https://cdn.environment.sa.gov.au/landscape/docs/hf/pa-fact-pafactdiurisbrevifolia.pdf|publisher=Government of South Australia Department for Environment and Heritage|accessdate=22 June 2023}}

Diuris brevifolia was first formally described in 1922 by Richard Sanders Rogers who published his description in Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia.{{cite web|title=Duiris brevifolia|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/493801|publisher=APNI|accessdate=6 March 2018}}{{cite journal|last1=Rogers|first1=Richard S.|title=Contributions to the Orchidology of Australia and New Zealand|journal=Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia|date=1922|volume=46|pages=148–149|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/109617#page/161/mode/1up|accessdate=6 March 2018}} The specific epithet (brevifolia) is derived from the Latin words brevis meaning "short" and folium meaning "leaf".Backer, C.A. (1936). Verklarend woordenboek der wetenschappelijke namen van de in Nederland en Nederlandsch-Indië in het wild groeiende en in tuinen en parken gekweekte varens en hoogere planten (Edition Nicoline van der Sijs).

The short-leaved donkey orchid grows in a variety of habitats including heath, forest and woodland but is most common around the edges of swamps and river flats. It only occurs to the south of Adelaide and on Kangaroo Island.

There has been a large decline in the distribution and abundance of this donkey orchid in recent years and is listed as "endangered" in South Australia. The main threats to the species are incompatible land use and infrequent fire.

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brevifolia

Category:Orchids of South Australia

Category:Endemic orchids of Australia

Category:Plants described in 1922

Category:Taxa named by Richard Sanders Rogers