Granite donkey orchid facts for kids

The Granite Donkey Orchid (scientific name: Diuris chrysantha) is a special type of orchid that only grows in eastern Australia. It's known for its beautiful deep golden to orange flowers, which often have brown spots. This plant usually has one or two long leaves. You can find it growing in the hilly and flat areas from Tamworth all the way up to the Darling Downs.

What it Looks Like

The Granite Donkey Orchid is a plant that grows from a tuber (a bit like a potato). It's a perennial herb, meaning it lives for more than two years and doesn't have a woody stem. It usually has one or two long, thin leaves that are folded in half lengthwise. These leaves can be about 120–360 mm (5–10 in) long and 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.

This orchid grows a flowering stem that can be 150–320 mm (6–10 in) tall. On this stem, you'll find between two and seven bright golden to orange flowers. Each flower is about 18–20 mm (0.7–0.8 in) wide and has brown markings.

Let's look at the parts of the flower:

• The dorsal sepal (the top part) stands upright. It's shaped like an egg, about 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide.
• The lateral sepals (the two side parts) are long and thin, like a spatula. They are 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, and they point downwards.
• The petals are almost round, about 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and wide. They sit on a brown stalk that is 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long, looking a bit like ears above the rest of the flower.
• The labellum (the lip of the flower) is 7–9 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and has three parts, called lobes.
  • The middle lobe is shaped like a heart or a wedge, about 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 4–6 mm (0.16–0.24 in) wide.
  • The two side lobes are egg-shaped, about 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.12 in) wide.
• Inside the labellum, there are two raised lines called callus ridges. These are about 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and spread apart from each other.

You can see these beautiful orchids flowering from August to November.

How it Got its Name

The scientific name for this orchid, Diuris chrysantha, was officially given in 1987. Two botanists, David Jones and Mark Clements, described it for the first time. They found a sample of the plant near Stanthorpe.

The second part of its scientific name, chrysantha, comes from two words in Ancient Greek. Chrysos means "gold," and anthos means "flower." So, the name "chrysantha" literally means "gold flower," which perfectly describes its bright golden blooms!

Where it Lives

The Granite Donkey Orchid likes to grow in grassy forests. You can find it in the mountain ranges and flat tablelands. Its home stretches from Tamworth in the south, all the way up to the Darling Downs in Queensland.