Northern doubletail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern doubletail |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Diuris
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| Species: |
luteola
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Diuris luteola, also known as the northern doubletail, is a special type of orchid that grows only in Queensland, Australia. It's called "doubletail" because of the way its petals look. This orchid has a single long, thin leaf and pretty pale yellow flowers with a few brown spots. You can find it growing in shallow, rocky soil in the eastern parts of Queensland.
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What the Northern Doubletail Orchid Looks Like
The northern doubletail orchid is a tuberous plant. This means it has a round, underground storage part, a bit like a potato. It's also a perennial herb, so it lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem.
It has one long, thin leaf that grows from its base. This leaf is about 20 to 35 centimeters (8 to 14 inches) long and 3 to 4 millimeters (about 0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide. The base of the leaf is often purplish.
Flowers of the Northern Doubletail
This orchid can have up to six pale yellow flowers on a single stem. Each flower is about 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) wide and has a few brown markings. The flowering stem itself can grow from 12 to 45 centimeters (5 to 18 inches) tall.
The top petal, called the dorsal sepal, points forward. It's egg-shaped and measures about 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3 to 0.4 inches) long and 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2 to 0.3 inches) wide.
The two side sepals are long and narrow, like a spearhead. They are green with brown spots. These sepals are about 12 to 20 millimeters (0.5 to 0.8 inches) long and about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. They usually point downwards and cross over each other.
The main petals stand mostly upright and are spread apart. They are shaped like an ellipse or an egg, narrower at the base. These petals are 6 to 10 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long and 4.5 to 8.5 millimeters (0.18 to 0.33 inches) wide. They sit on a dark reddish-brown stalk that is 3 to 5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long.
The labellum is a special lip-like petal, about 6 to 9 millimeters (0.2 to 0.4 inches) long. It usually points forward and has three parts, or lobes. The middle lobe is narrow and can be 4 to 7 millimeters (0.16 to 0.28 inches) wide, with some pale brown markings. The two side lobes are thin and stand upright, about 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) long.
Near the base of the labellum, there are two parallel raised lines called calli. These are about 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long. The northern doubletail orchid usually blooms between July and September.
Naming the Northern Doubletail Orchid
Diuris luteola was first officially described in 1991. It was named by two botanists, David Jones and Bruce Gray. They found a sample of this orchid on the Atherton Tableland near Herberton.
The second part of its scientific name, luteola, comes from a Latin word. It means "yellowish," which perfectly describes the color of this orchid's flowers.
Where the Northern Doubletail Orchid Lives
The northern doubletail orchid grows in shallow soil within grassy forests. You can find it in various locations across Queensland. Its habitat stretches from Mount Windsor, which is next to the Daintree National Park, all the way down to the Blackdown Tableland.
