Diuris exitela
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| image_caption =
| genus = Diuris
| species = exitela
| authority = D.L.Jones{{cite web|title=Diuris exitela|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/117437|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=26 June 2023}}
| synonyms =
}}
Diuris exitela, commonly called the Mount Moffat doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to central western Queensland. It has two linear leaves at its base, up to twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings and grows on sandstone cliffs and ridges.
Description
Diuris exitela is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves {{convert|150-400|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|8-12|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and folded lengthwise. Between seven and twelve bright yellow flowers with dark brown markings, {{convert|20-25|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and leaning downwards are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|300-700|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The dorsal sepal projects forward and is egg-shaped, {{convert|9-12|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and forms a hood over the rest of the flower. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, green and purple-brown, {{convert|10-16|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|1-2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, turned downwards and usually crossed over each other. The petals are held horizontally or droop with an elliptic blade {{convert|9-13|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a green to purplish stalk {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The labellum is {{convert|10-15|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is egg-shaped, {{convert|9-12|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|6-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and the side lobes are linear, purplish-brown, about {{convert|2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. There are two ridge-like calli about {{convert|4.5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long near the base of the mid-line of the base of the labellum. Flowering occurs in September and October.{{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|page =121}}{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=1991|volume=2|pages =55–56}}
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris exitela was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected on Mount Moffat and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.{{cite web|title=Duiris exitela|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/551650|publisher=APNI|accessdate=20 March 2018}} The specific epithet (exitela) is derived from the Ancient Greek word exitelos meaning "lessening", "fading" or "weakening",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page =311}} referring to the colour of the flowers which fades quickly from bright yellow to pale yellow as they age.
Distribution and habitat
The Mount Moffat doubletail grows mainly on sandstone cliffs and ridges but also between sandstone boulders in woodland and is found on Mount Moffat and in Carnarvon Gorge in central western Queensland.
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Orchids of Queensland