Pine Donkey Orchid - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Diuris tricolor

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Profile last updated: 29 Jun 2022

Description

The Pine Donkey Orchid (formerly known as Diuris sheaffiana and D. colemaniae) is a terrestrial species (it grows from the ground rather than from rocks or vegetation). It has between one and three leaves, to 30 centimetres long and 4 mm wide. The flower stalk is between 20-40 cm high and has 2-6 flowers, which are bright yellow to orange, speckled with red to purple and white markings. The sepals (the down-pointing slender green segments) are very long and often crossed.

Distribution

Sporadically distributed on the western slopes of NSW, extending from south of Narrandera all the way to the north of NSW. Localities in the south include Red Hill north of Narrandera, Coolamon, and several sites west of Wagga Wagga. Condobolin-Nymagee road, Wattamondara towards Cowra, Eugowra, Girilambone, Dubbo and Cooyal, in the Central West. Pilliga SCA, Pilliga National Park and Bibblewindi State Forest in the north (and extending into Queensland) and Muswellbrook in the east.

Habitat and ecology

Disturbance regimes are not known, although the species is usually recorded from disturbed habitats.
Associated species include Callitris glaucophylla, Eucalyptus populnea, Eucalyptus intertexta, Ironbark and Acacia shrubland. The understorey is often grassy with herbaceous plants such as Bulbine species.
Usually flowers between early September to late October. The species is a tuberous, deciduous terrestrial orchid and the flowers have a pleasant, light sweet scent.
The Pine Donkey Orchid grows in sclerophyll forest among grass, often with native Cypress Pine (Callitris spp.). It is found in sandy soils, either on flats or small rises. Also recorded from a red earth soil in a Bimble Box community in western NSW.
Usually recorded as common and locally frequent in populations, however only one or two plants have also been observed at sites. The species has been noted as growing in large colonies.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Habitat clearing and modification. The species requires a grassy component to the ground layer to provide some protection and moisture-retaining litter.
Infrastructure including powerlines, earthworks, water delivery, gas exploration and extraction and railway construction and maintenance causing disturbance to habitat. The short duration of its flowering reduces likelihood of detection when developments are assessed for their impact on threatened species.
Feral animal impacts. The sandy soils and grassy open areas where this orchid grows are vulnerable to rabbit and goat disturbance
Weed competition.
Forestry activity including harvesting, crushing and disturbing ground cover and compacting soil with vehicles, and increasing vulnerability to pest plant invasion.
General roadside maintenance that harms the species including changing the hydrology, spraying weeds, and spreading invasive weeds.
Hazard reduction burns affect life cycle of species. Especially burns after forest harvest activities and high-intensity fires, which destroy species under soil surface.
Habitat clearing and modification including clearing for agriculture, cropping, rural development, peri-urban encroachment, and small-acreage development.
Direct loss of individuals and destruction of habitat due to mining.
Domestic stock directly graze on species and trample it. Species is palatable to domestic stock from emergence to seed set. Inflorescences grow in inter-tussock voids and are supported by grasses, so species is grazed upon along with grasses. Agricultural areas used for grazing will support the species depending on grazing intensity and any improved pasture work that has been undertaken.
Exotic perennial tussock grass invasion where disturbance occurs, e.g. Coolatai grass.

Recovery strategies

Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to recover a threatened species, population or ecological community. The Office of Environment and Heritage has identified 10 priority actions to help recover the Pine Donkey Orchid in New South Wales.

Activities to assist this species

Avoid changing land use where Pine Donkey Orchid is known to survive.
Instigate monitoring studies within known populations.
Investigate regeneration including seed-set, germination and seedling survival.
Conduct experimental studies on the effects of fire and grazing disturbance.
Conduct searches for further populations.
Organise proactive surveying in potential habitats.

Information sources

Brinsley, W. (1968) A reduction of Diuris colemanae Rupp to a synonym of Diuris tricolor Fitzg. of the inland. The Victorian Naturalist 3(2): 14-15.
Burrows, G.E. (1999) A survey of 25 remnant vegetation sites in the South Western Slopes, New South Wales. Cunninghamia 6(2): 283-314.
CANB Herbarium Records. () Databased specimen records from the Canberra Botanic Gardens and Australian National Botanic Gardens (CSIRO and Australian National Botanic Gardens: Canberra).
Clements, M.A. (1989) Catalogue of Australian Orchidaceae. Australian Orchid Research 1: 1-160.
Cunningham, G.M., Mulham, W.E., Milthorpe, P.L. and Leigh, J.H. (1992) Plants of Western New South Wales. (Inkata Press, Sydney)
Fitzgerald, R.D. (1885) Diuris tricolor Fitzg. Journal of Botany 23: 137.
Jones, D.L. (1988) Native Orchids of Australia. Reed, Sydney.
Jones, D.L. (1993) Diuris. In Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 4 (New South Wales University Press: Sydney).
Rupp, H.M.R. (1940) A new Diuris of the inland. The Victorian Naturalist 57: 63-65.
Rupp, H.M.R. (1943) The Orchids of New South Wales (Facsimile published 1969) (Issued from the National Herbarium of New South Wales as part of the Flora of New South Wales: Sydney).
Stanley, T.D. and Ross, E.M. (1989) Flora of South-Eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Plains	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Liverpool Range	Predicted	None
Brigalow Belt South	Northern Basalts	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Pilliga Outwash	Known	None
Brigalow Belt South	Talbragar Valley	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Canbelego Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Nymagee	Known	None
Darling Riverine Plains	Bogan-Macquarie	Known	None
Nandewar	Peel	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Inland Slopes	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Riverina	Murrumbidgee	Known	None
South Eastern Highlands	Bungonia	Predicted	None
Sydney Basin	Hunter	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Kerrabee	Known	None
Sydney Basin	Wollemi	Predicted	None