Diuris recurva
{{Short description|Species of orchid}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Mini donkey orchid
| image = Diuris recurva.jpg
| image_caption =
| status = P4
| status_system = DECF
| status_ref =
| genus = Diuris
| species = recurva
| authority = D.L.Jones{{cite web|title=Diuris recurva|url= https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/apc-format/display/117451|publisher=Australian Plant Census|access-date=14 August 2023}}
| synonyms =
}}
Diuris recurva, commonly called the mini donkey orchid is a species of orchid that is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has one or two leaves at its base, up to six small pale yellow and brownish flowers and grows in winter-wet places between Badgingarra and Kalbarri.
Description
Diuris recurva is a tuberous, perennial herb with one or two linear leaves that are {{convert|100-150|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and folded lengthwise. Up to six pale yellow flowers with brownish to dark burgundy-coloured markings, {{convert|16-20|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|12-16|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide are borne on a flowering stem {{convert|200-300|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} tall. The dorsal sepal curves upwards, often backwards and is egg-shaped with the narrower end towards the base, about {{convert|8|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|7|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, green or reddish, {{convert|9-12.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long, about {{convert|2|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide, turned downwards and usually crossed over each other. The petals are more or less erect with an egg-shaped blade {{convert|10-13|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|4-6.5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} wide on a greenish-brown stalk {{convert|4-6|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long. The labellum is {{convert|4-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is spatula-shaped, {{convert|3-4.5|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and dark reddish brown with yellow patches. The side lobes are {{convert|4-5|mm|in|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|mm|in|sigfig=1|abbr=on}} wide and curve backwards. There is a single raised, ridge-like callus along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs in July and August.{{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 =136}}{{cite journal|last1=Jones|first1=David L.|title=New taxa of Australian Orchidaceae|journal=Australian Orchid Research|date=1991|volume=2|pages=61–62}}{{cite book|last1=Brown|first1=Andrew|last2=Dixon|first2=Kingsley|last3=French|first3=Christopher|last4=Brockman|first4=Garry|title=Field guide to the orchids of Western Australia : the definitive guide to the native orchids of Western Australia|date=2013|publisher=Simon Nevill Publications|isbn=9780980348149|page=210}}{{cite book|last1=Hoffman|first1=Noel|last2=Brown|first2=Andrew|title=Orchids of South-West Australia.|date=2011|publisher=Noel Hoffman|location=Gooseberry Hill|isbn=9780646562322|page=458|edition=3rd}}
Taxonomy and naming
Diuris recurva was first formally described in 1991 by David Jones from a specimen collected near Northampton, and the description was published in Australian Orchid Review.{{cite web|title=Duiris recurva|url= https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/551666|publisher=APNI|accessdate=4 April 2018}} The specific epithet (recurva) is a Latin word meaning "recurved", referring to the petals and lateral sepals that are curved backwards.
Distribution and habitat
The mini donkey orchid grows mostly in winter-wet heath between Badgingarra and Kalbarri in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains and Jarrah Forest biogeographic regions.{{FloraBase|name=Diuris recurva |id=12936}}
Conservation
Diuris recurva is classified as "Priority Four" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife, meaning that is rare or near threatened.{{cite web|title=Conservation codes for Western Australian Flora and Fauna|url=https://www.dpaw.wa.gov.au/images/documents/plants-animals/threatened-species/Listings/Conservation%20code%20definitions.pdf|publisher=Government of Western Australia Department of Parks and Wildlife|accessdate=25 July 2019}}