Appearance
''Diuris parvipetala'' is a tuberous, perennial herb with two linear leaves 200–300 mm long, 3–4 mm wide and folded lengthwise.Up to nine whitish to mauve flowers with purple markings and 17–22 mm wide are borne on a flowering stem 200–450 mm tall. The dorsal sepal is angled upwards, 6–8 mm long and about 5 mm wide.
The lateral sepals are 30–45 mm long, about 1 mm wide and turned downwards. The petals are oblong, 3–4 mm long, 1–2 mm wide and spread apart from each other on a purple-brown stalk 6–8.5 mm long.
The labellum is 5–6.5 mm long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is spade-shaped, about 5 mm long and 4–5 mm wide with its tip turned downwards.
The side lobes are about 2 mm long and 1 mm wide. There are between two thick, ridge-like calli 3–4 mm long in the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from August to October.
Naming
The slender purple donkey orchid was first formally described in 1964 by Alick Dockrill who gave it the name ''Diuris punctata'' var. ''parvipetala''. The description was published in ''The Victorian Naturalist'' from a specimen collected near Brigooda.In 1987 David Jones and Mark Clements raised it to species status as ''Diuris parvipetalum''. The specific epithet is derived from the Latin words ''parvus'' meaning "small" and ''petalum'' meaning "leaf".
Distribution
''Diuris parvipetala'' grows with grasses and between rocks from about Mount Moffatt in Queensland to Emmaville in New South Wales.Status
''Diuris ochroma'' is classed as "vulnerable" under the Queensland Government ''Nature Conservation Act 1992''.Habitat
''Diuris parvipetala'' grows with grasses and between rocks from about Mount Moffatt in Queensland to Emmaville in New South Wales.References:
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