Diuris goonooensis
# Diuris goonooensis

Diuris goonooensis, commonly known as Goonoo donkey orchid or western donkey orchid, is a species of orchid that is endemic to western New South Wales. It has one or two linear leaves at its base and up to eight yellow flowers with brown markings on each part of the flower.

## Description

Diuris goonooensis is a tuberous, terrestrial herb with one or two linear leaves 150–400 mm (5.9–15.7 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) wide and folded lengthwise. Between two and eight yellow flowers with brown markings on each flower part are borne on a flowering stem 300–700 mm (12–28 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is broadly egg-shaped, 10–18 mm (0.39–0.71 in) long and 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) wide. The lateral sepals are lance-shaped, sometimes with the narrower end towards the base, 10–22 mm (0.39–0.87 in) long, 1.5–4 mm (0.059–0.157 in) wide, turned downwards and parallel to, or crossed over each other. The petals spread apart from each other, broadly egg-shaped, 9–20 mm (0.35–0.79 in) long and 6–13 mm (0.24–0.51 in) wide on a greenish-brown stalk 3–8 mm (0.12–0.31 in) long. The labellum is 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is broadly egg-shaped, to wedge-shaped, 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) long with three lobes. The side lobes are narrowly egg-shaped, 4–7 mm (0.16–0.28 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.079–0.157 in) wide. The middle lobe is broadly egg-shaped, 6–13 mm (0.24–0.51 in) long with a central ridge and there are two ridge-like calli about 4 mm (0.16 in) long. Flowering occurs in September and October.

## Taxonomy and naming

Diuris goonooensis was first formally described in 1955 by Montague Rupp in The Victorian Naturalist from specimens collected by George Althofer in the "Goonoo Forest, 18 miles from Dubbo" in 1947.

## Distribution and habitat

Goonoo donkey orchid grows in forest on ranges and plains in western New South Wales, mainly between Lockhart and Narrabri.

