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Donkey Orchid Wikimedia Commons
Orchidaceae

Donkey Orchid

Diuris corymbosa

Uniqueness and mimicry.

Family
Orchidaceae
Genus
Diuris
Native to
Australia
Bloom season
Spring
Type
Terrestrial orchid
Height
0.2-0.6 meters
Sunlight
Full sun to partial shade
Soil
Sandy, well-drained
Water
Low to moderate
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
Perennial

Did you know

  • Donkey orchids get their common name because the two upright petals resemble donkey ears.
  • Many Diuris species are food-deception mimics, imitating pea flowers to trick bees into pollinating them.
  • They grow from underground tubers and are dormant through the dry Australian summer.
  • Several donkey orchid species are critically endangered due to habitat loss in Western Australia.
  • They form a mycorrhizal relationship with soil fungi that is essential for seed germination.

Color meanings

0

Cleverness

1

Deception

2

Australian spirit

Uses

  • Native orchid gardens
  • Conservation
  • Botanical study