Golden donkey orchid facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Golden donkey orchid |
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| Georges River, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Diuris
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| Species: |
aurea
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The Diuris aurea, also known as the golden donkey orchid, is a special type of orchid. It only grows in Australia, in places like New South Wales and Queensland. This beautiful plant has one or two leaves at its base. It also grows two to five golden-yellow or orange flowers. These flowers often have some darker markings, making them even more unique.
What it Looks Like
The golden donkey orchid is a tuberous plant. This means it grows from a small, round part underground, similar to a potato. It is also a perennial plant, which means it lives for many years. It's a terrestrial herb, so it grows on land and has soft, green stems, not woody ones like a tree.
This orchid usually grows to be about 30 to 60 centimeters (12-24 inches) tall. It has one or two long, thin leaves. Each leaf is about 10 to 20 centimeters (4-8 inches) long and 4 to 6 millimeters (0.16-0.24 inches) wide.
The plant produces between 2 and 5 flowers. These flowers are usually golden yellow to orange. They have some darker markings on their labellum (which is the special lip petal) and the dorsal sepal (the top leaf-like part of the flower). Each flower is about 3.5 centimeters (1.4 inches) wide.
The dorsal sepal is shaped like a wide egg and stands upright. It is about 8 to 15 millimeters (0.3-0.6 inches) long. The lateral sepals are long and spoon-shaped. They hang below the flower, usually side by side, and are about 10 to 25 millimeters (0.4-1 inch) long.
The petals of the flower stand up and spread out. They look a bit like ears above the flower. These petals are broadly egg-shaped, about 7 to 17 millimeters (0.3-0.7 inches) long. The labellum is about 10 to 16 millimeters (0.4-0.6 inches) long. It is divided into three parts. The side parts are narrow with a few small teeth on their edges. The middle part is wider and has a ridge along its center.
Golden donkey orchids usually bloom from August to November.
How it Got its Name
The golden donkey orchid was first officially described in 1804. A scientist named James Edward Smith wrote about it in his book Exotic Botany (Volume 1).
The plant's scientific name, aurea, comes from the Latin word aurum. This word means "gold," which perfectly describes the color of its beautiful flowers.
Where it Lives
In New South Wales, you can find the golden donkey orchid growing between Marulan and the Hunter Valley. It likes to grow in grassy areas within forests, especially near the coast.
This orchid also grows in Queensland. In Queensland, its conservation status is "of least concern." This means that the plant is not currently at risk of disappearing.
Images for kids
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A labelled image of the golden donkey orchid, showing its different parts.
