Diuris unica facts for kids

The Diuris unica is a special type of orchid that grows only in eastern Australia. It's often called a "donkey orchid" because its flowers look a bit like a donkey's ears! This plant usually has just one long, grass-like leaf. It can grow up to eight bright, lemon-yellow flowers. These flowers often have a few dark marks on them. It looks a lot like another orchid, D. chrysantha. However, Diuris unica flowers much earlier. It also has only one leaf, while D. chrysantha has two.

What Does the Diuris unica Orchid Look Like?

The Diuris unica is a tuberous, perennial herb. This means it grows from a small, underground storage part (a tuber). It also lives for more than two years. It has a single, long, thin leaf. This leaf is about 15 to 28 centimeters (6-11 inches) long. It is also about 3 to 7 millimeters (0.1-0.3 inches) wide. The leaf is usually folded lengthwise.

Flower Details of the Diuris unica

Up to eight flowers grow on a tall stem. This stem can be 15 to 45 centimeters (6-18 inches) high. Each flower is about 18 to 25 millimeters (0.7-1 inch) wide. The flowers are a bright lemon-yellow color. They have a few dark marks at the base of the top sepal and the labellum.

Parts of the Diuris unica Flower

The dorsal sepal is the top part of the flower. It curves upwards and is shaped like an egg. It measures about 7 to 10 millimeters (0.3-0.4 inches) long. It is also 5 to 7 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) wide. The lateral sepals are the two side parts. They are shaped like an egg or a spatula. They are 8 to 18 millimeters (0.3-0.7 inches) long. They are also 2 to 3 millimeters (0.08-0.1 inches) wide. These sepals are held below the flower. They are either parallel to each other or crossed.

The petals stand upright. They have a blade that is elliptical or almost round. This blade is 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) long and wide. It sits on a dark stalk about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16-0.2 inches) long. The labellum is the special lower lip of the orchid flower. It is about 7 to 9 millimeters (0.3-0.35 inches) long. It has three parts, called lobes.

The center lobe of the labellum is egg-shaped or wedge-shaped. It is 6 to 8 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) long. It is also 5 to 8 millimeters (0.2-0.3 inches) wide. The side lobes are oblong or broadly wedge-shaped. They are 3 to 4 millimeters (0.12-0.16 inches) long. They are also about 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) wide. There are two thick, ridge-like bumps called calli in the middle of the labellum's base. These calli are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16-0.2 inches) long. This orchid flowers from July to September.

How the Diuris unica Orchid Got Its Name

The Diuris unica was first officially described in 2006. A botanist named David Jones gave it its formal description. He found a sample of this orchid near Maryborough in 1986.

Meaning of the Name unica

The second part of its scientific name, unica, is a Latin word. It means "only," "sole," or "singular." This name refers to the fact that this orchid usually has only one leaf.

Where Does the Diuris unica Orchid Grow?

This orchid grows in certain types of environments. It likes "wallum" and sandy heath areas. These are found in coastal and near-coastal regions. You can find it in south-eastern Queensland. It also grows in northern New South Wales, but in separate, spread-out areas.