About Diuris jonesii C.J.French & G.Brockman
Diuris jonesii C.J.French & G.Brockman, commonly known as the Dunsborough donkey orchid, is a tuberous perennial herb. It typically reaches a height of 250–400 mm (10–20 in). Two to three leaves emerge from its base, each measuring 100–300 mm (4–10 in) long and 5–12 mm (0.2–0.5 in) wide. It produces between two and eight multicolored flowers in yellow, mauve, and brown. Each flower is 40–50 mm (1.6–2.0 in) long and 20–35 mm (0.8–1 in) wide. The dorsal sepal is erect, while the narrow lateral sepals hang downwards or sometimes cross one another. Its petals are elongated, and the labellum has spreading lateral lobes with a broad, flattened or folded central lobe. This species is similar to the giant donkey orchid, D. amplissima, but it bears smaller, less colourful flowers and has a more coastal distribution. Flowering takes place from late September to October. This orchid grows in shrubland and woodland in near-coastal areas between Dunsborough and Augusta, within the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain, and Warren biogeographic regions.
