About Diuris longifolia R.Br.
Diuris longifolia, commonly called purple pansy orchid, is a tuberous perennial herb. It produces up to three narrowly linear leaves, each 100–200 mm long and 8–10 mm wide. Between one and seven purple and mauve flowers with yellowish markings, each 20–30 mm wide, are carried on a flowering stem 100–350 mm tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, and measures 10–12 mm long and wide. The lateral sepals turn abruptly downwards, and are 16–22 mm long and 3–4 mm wide. The petals are erect; their blades are 11–16 mm long and 7–9 mm wide, attached to a stalk 4–6 mm long. The labellum is 6–9 mm long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is narrowly wedge-shaped, 6–8 mm long and 4–5.5 mm wide with a down-turned tip. The side lobes spread outward, and are 6–8 mm long and 3–4.5 mm wide. A single yellow callus 2–4 mm long grows along the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering takes place from September to November. This orchid is found between Perth and Albany in south-western Western Australia, occurring in the Jarrah Forest, Swan Coastal Plain and Warren bioregions. It grows in moist locations in shrublands, woodland and forest, on substrates including sand, lateritic loam, clay and granite.
