About Diuris semilunulata Messmer
Diuris semilunulata, commonly known as the late leopard orchid, is a tuberous, perennial herb. It has two linear leaves, each 150–250 mm (6–10 in) long, 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide, and folded lengthwise. Between three and five orange flowers with large brown and purple blotches, 20–30 mm (0.8–1 in) wide, are borne on a flowering stem 200–350 mm (8–14 in) tall. The dorsal sepal is erect, egg-shaped, 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in) long and 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. The lateral sepals are linear to lance-shaped, with the narrower end towards the base. They measure 12–18 mm (0.5–0.7 in) long and 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) wide, are turned downwards or backwards, and cross over each other. The petals are curved backwards, broadly egg-shaped to almost circular, 5–11 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long and 4–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) wide, growing on a dark reddish brown stalk 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The labellum is 4–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and has three lobes. The centre lobe is wedge-shaped, 5–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide, with a central ridge. The side lobes are 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) wide. Two raised callus ridges 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long are located near the mid-line of the labellum. Flowering occurs from October to December. This orchid mostly grows in shallow, rocky soil in open forest. It is distributed in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales south from Nerriga, and possibly Victoria.
