Diuris luteola
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Northern doubletail
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| genus = Diuris
| species = luteola
| authority = D.L.Jones & B.Gray{{cite web|title=Diuris luteola|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/117440|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=10 August 2023}}
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Diuris luteola, commonly called the northern doubletail, is a species of orchid which is endemic to Queensland. It has a single linear leaf at its base and up to six pale yellow flowers with a few brown markings. It grows in shallow, stony soil on tablelands in eastern parts of the state.
Description
Diuris luteola is a tuberous, perennial herb with a single linear leaf {{convert|200-350|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|3-4|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with a purplish base. Up to six pale yellow flowers with a few brown markings, about {{convert|25|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|120-450|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The dorsal sepal projects forward and is egg-shaped, {{convert|7-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5-8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, green with brown blotches, {{convert|12-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, turned downwards and crossed over each other. The petals are more or less erect, spread apart from each other with an elliptic to egg-shaped blade with the narrower end towards the base. They are {{convert|6-10|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4.5-8.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide on a dark reddish brown stalk {{convert|3-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The labellum is {{convert|6-9|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, usually projects forwards and has three lobes. The centre lobe is linear to egg-shaped, {{convert|4-7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide with a few pale brown markings. The side lobes are linear to oblong, erect, about {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1-1.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. There are two parallel ridge-like calli about {{convert|5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long near the base of the mid-line of the base of the labellum. Flowering occurs from July to September.{{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 =129–130}}{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=1991|volume=2|pages=57–58}}
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris luteola was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones and Bruce Gray from a specimen collected on the Atherton Tableland near Herberton and the description was published in Australian Orchid Research.{{cite web|title=Duiris luteola|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/551653|publisher=APNI|accessdate=26 March 2018}} The specific epithet (luteola) is a Latin word meaning "yellowish",{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Roland Wilbur|title=The Composition of Scientific Words|date=1956|publisher=Smithsonian Institution Press|location=Washington, D.C.|page = 500}} referring to the colour of the flowers of this species.
Distribution and habitat
The northern doubletail grows in shallow soil in grassy forest from Mount Windsor adjacent to the Daintree National Park to the Blackdown Tableland.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.northqueenslandplants.com/Australian%20Plant%20Families%20N-S/Orchidaceae/Diuris/Diuris%20luteola.html Images of D. luteola]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q10267400}}
Category:Endemic orchids of Australia
Category:Orchids of Queensland